John Miller
Mushrooms are the reproductive bodies of fungi, and their purpose is to produce spores, or seeds. Each type of fungus has a different spore type and releases them in unique patterns depending on the form of the underside of the mushroom cap. The most common method for harvesting spores from mushrooms is by making a spore print. This involves removing the stem from a fresh, healthy mushroom and placing the cap, gill side down, onto a piece of paper or aluminium foil. A drop of water is then placed on the cap, which is covered with a bowl and left for 24 hours. The spores will then fall onto the paper, creating a spore print pattern. This print can be preserved by spraying it with hairspray. Once a spore print has been created, a spore syringe can be made by rehydrating the spores with sterile water, which can then be used to inoculate the growing medium.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom type | Agaricus, Oysters, Cubes, Shiitake, Portobello (or brown cap), Button |
| Spore collection method | Spore print, Spore syringe |
| Spore print process | Remove the stem from a fresh mushroom, place the cap gill side down on paper or foil, add a drop of water, cover with a bowl and leave for 2-24 hours |
| Spore syringe process | Rehydrate spores using sterile water, inoculate the growing medium, work in a sterilised environment, boil water 2-3 times to eliminate bacteria, sterilise syringe with flame, draw sterilised water into syringe, scrape spores into sterilised glass, expel water into glass, draw spore water into syringe |
| Spore preservation | Spray spore print with artist spray or hairspray |
| Spore inoculation | Inoculate sterile grains, mix with substrate, directly put spores on substrate |
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What You'll Learn
Prepare the mushrooms
Preparing the mushrooms is the first step in creating mushroom spores. The mushrooms must be fresh and healthy, with firm caps and moist gills. Check for mould, brown spots, and mushy areas. Mushrooms with gills are the easiest to harvest spores from, but spores can be extracted from any mushroom type with some experimentation.
To begin, remove the stem from the mushroom so that the gills touch the paper. Cut the stem at its base, as close to the gills as possible, using scissors or a knife. Alternatively, you can simply pull out the stem, as it usually separates easily. If your mushroom has pores instead of gills, you can still extract the spores by placing the mushroom cap on foil and enclosing it with the rest of the mushroom.
Once the stem is removed, place the mushroom cap gill-side down onto a piece of paper or sterilized tin foil. If you want to see the colour of the spores, use white paper. To preserve the spore print, use foil or spray the paper with an artist spray or hairspray. If you want to see the spores under a microscope, use a glass microscope slide.
Add a drop of water to the cap to help release the spores. Then, cover the cap with a bowl or glass and let it sit for 2-24 hours, depending on the humidity and freshness of the mushroom. The longer you leave the mushroom, the more spores it will release. After 24 hours, remove the bowl and cap to reveal your spores.
If you are creating a spore syringe, sterilize your water and a small dish by placing them in a pressure cooker and heating them until the water reaches 15 psi. Then, lower the temperature and continue to cook for at least 30 minutes. Allow the water to cool to room temperature before proceeding. Draw some of the sterilized water into a syringe and use the needle to scrape the spores from the spore print into a sterilized glass. Expel half of the water from the syringe into the glass, then draw the spore water back into the syringe.
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Create a spore print
Creating a spore print is an easy and fun way to learn about the different species of mushrooms. Spore prints can be created on various surfaces, including paper, foil, glass, or cardboard, and they make beautiful artworks. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a spore print:
Choose Your Mushroom
Pick a mushroom with visible gills, such as oyster, portobello, or Swiss brown mushrooms. If you are collecting mushrooms from the wild, bring a basket or paper bag to carry them without squishing them. Remember to wash your hands after handling wild mushrooms!
Prepare the Mushroom
Remove the stem of the mushroom by cutting it at the cap, right up to the gills. This will ensure that the cap can sit flat on the surface. If you are using a mushroom with pores instead of gills, such as boletes, the spores will be inside the pores underneath the cap.
Place the Mushroom on the Surface
Place the mushroom cap gill-side down on a piece of paper, foil, or glass. Black paper works well for mushrooms with pale gills, while white paper is better for darker-gilled mushrooms. If you are using foil, aluminium foil is recommended as it is cleaner, inorganic, and doesn't absorb or hold water. You can also use laminated black and white paper, which allows you to wipe off the prints and reuse them.
Cover and Wait
Cover the mushroom gently with a bowl, cup, or glass to protect it from any breeze and to maintain humidity. If you are using foil, you can enclose the mushroom cap in the foil without using a separate container. Leave the setup overnight or for a few hours. The spores will drift down and settle, creating a spore print pattern.
Reveal the Spore Print
After waiting, carefully remove the container and the mushroom to reveal the spore print. Spore prints are fragile, so avoid touching them. If you want to preserve the spore print, let it dry completely, and then gently spray it with an artist's fixative or hairspray. You can frame it, gift it, or even use it for printing on fabric.
Creating a spore print is a simple and magical process that allows us to observe the hidden world of mushrooms and their spores. Remember to always assume that wild mushrooms are poisonous and take the necessary precautions when handling them.
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Make a spore syringe
Making a spore syringe is a great way to cultivate and study mushrooms with control, specificity, and flexibility. It is also a preferred method for beginners as it is easy to use and reduces the chances of contamination during inoculation. Here is a detailed guide on how to make a spore syringe:
Prepare the required materials and workspace:
Firstly, gather the materials you will need, including a spore print, a syringe (preferably a luer-lock syringe with a screw-like ending), a syringe needle (a blunt tip is recommended), a scalpel or other flat-edged tool, distilled water, and a pressure cooker. It is important to ensure that your workspace is as clean and sterile as possible to prevent contamination from other fungi spores and bacteria.
Sterilize the water and equipment:
Pressure cook the distilled water at 15 psi for 30 minutes to sterilize it. Allow the water to cool down to room temperature, which can take several hours or even overnight. Sterilize your workspace, tweezers, and scalpel using a flame or by placing them in the pressure cooker with the water. If using a scalpel, ensure it is sterile by heating the blade until it glows red, then let it cool.
Prepare the spore solution:
Remove the sterile syringe and needle from their packaging. Place the needle into the cooled, sterilized water and draw some water into the syringe. Using the syringe needle or a scalpel, carefully scrape the spores from your spore print or tin foil into a sterile glass. Alternatively, you can place the spore print above the glass and hold it with tweezers while scraping the spores.
Create the spore syringe:
Empty half of the water from the syringe into the glass containing the scraped spores. Draw the spore water back into the syringe, and you will notice the water has become discoloured, indicating the presence of spores. Allow the spores to hydrate at room temperature for a few days. The syringe is now ready for use or can be stored in the fridge for later.
With your spore syringe ready, you can proceed to inoculate your growing medium, such as sterilized grain spawn, to begin the mushroom cultivation process.
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Inoculate the substrate
Before inoculating the substrate, it's important to prepare it. The substrate is the food source for the mushroom mycelium, and different species of mushrooms prefer different substrates. For example, wood-based substrates are optimal for reishi, lion's mane, and maitake mushrooms, while oyster mushrooms can grow on almost any substrate. The substrate should be mixed with water and possibly amended with extra nutrients. It may also need to be pasteurized or sterilized to kill off any competing mold or bacteria.
Once the substrate is ready, it's time to inoculate it with mushroom spawn or spores. This involves bringing the spawn into contact with the substrate to initiate growth. The spawn distribution method will depend on the nutrient level of the substrate. For example, inoculating a log substrate may entail drilling holes into it, while a stump substrate may require cutting wedges. For a bag substrate, the spawn can be mixed into the bag. The amount of spawn added to the substrate will influence the speed of spawn run. A higher inoculation rate will lead to faster mycelium growth through the substrate.
There are two common methods of spawn distribution: top spawning and through spawning. Top spawning involves adding the spawn on top of the substrate and letting it grow down. Through spawning, on the other hand, likely involves mixing the spawn throughout the substrate.
For a straw-based substrate, it's important to drain the straw well before inoculation. When you squeeze a handful of the substrate, only a few drops of water should come out. Coco coir and vermiculite can also be mixed to create an ideal substrate for some mushroom types.
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Maintain and grow
Once you have your mushroom spores, there are several ways to maintain and grow them. The most common method is to create a spore print. This is done by removing the stem from a fresh, mature mushroom and placing the cap gill-side down on a piece of paper or sterilized foil. You can use a combination of white and black paper to ensure that the spores, regardless of their shade, are visible. Place a glass container over the mushroom to prevent it from drying out and leave it for 24 hours. After this time, you will see a print on the paper that replicates the gill pattern from the mushroom. This is the spore print.
To maintain your spore print, keep it in a sealed bag in a cool, dry, and dark place until you are ready to cultivate mushrooms. When you are ready, create a spore syringe by working in a sterilized environment with distilled water that has been boiled 2-3 times to eliminate bacteria. Sterilize the syringe needle by holding it in a flame for a few seconds, then draw the cooled, sterilized water into the syringe. Scrape the spores from your spore print into a sterilized glass, expel half of the water from the syringe into the glass, and then draw the spore water back into the syringe. At this point, you should notice the water has become discoloured and may even see floating clusters of spores.
Now that you have your spore syringe, you can inoculate your growing medium. For button mushrooms, this can be a tray of composted manure or a mixture of horse manure and wet straw. For oyster mushrooms, a breathable bag of straw is suitable, while shiitake mushrooms grow on specially created growing blocks or logs. Keep your growing medium in a humid and dark environment to encourage mushroom growth.
Alternatively, you can skip the spore syringe step and directly mix your spores with water. Then, simply squirt the mixture around your yard or planter beds where there is composted material. This method is super low-tech but also has a low success rate.
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Frequently asked questions
The simplest way to create mushroom spores is to make a spore print. To do this, you will need a fresh, mature mushroom with gills, a piece of paper, a bowl, and some water. Remove the mushroom stem, place the cap gill-side down on the paper, and put a drop of water on the cap. Then, cover the mushroom with a bowl and leave it for 24 hours. After this time, you should see a spore print pattern on the paper.
To create a mushroom spore syringe, you will need to source some mushroom spores, either by making your own spore print or buying spores online. Then, prepare a clean environment with minimal airflow and gather your equipment: a syringe, a needle, a glass, distilled water, and a heat source. Boil the water 2-3 times to sterilize it, and use a flame to sterilize the syringe and needle. Draw the cooled, sterilized water into the syringe, and use the needle to scrape spores from your spore print into the glass. Expel half the water from the syringe into the glass, and draw the spore water back into the syringe.
Oyster mushrooms are the best type of mushroom for beginners to grow from spores. They grow on straw, so you can buy a kit that includes a breathable bag of straw and mushroom spawn. Agaricus mushrooms, including the popular Portobello and button mushrooms, are trickier to grow and come with complications involving substrate composition and casing layers.
