Emily Johnson
Cultured mushrooms are mushrooms that are grown using specific techniques and conditions. Mushrooms derive their energy and growth materials from their growth medium through biochemical decomposition processes. They require a combination of humidity, temperature, substrate (growth medium), and inoculum (spawn or starter culture). Mushrooms can be grown using spawn or liquid culture systems, with spawn being the living fungal culture (mycelium) grown into a substrate like grains, sawdust, or woodchips, and liquid culture being a nutrient-rich solution with active mycelium. Indoor tray growing is the most common commercial technique, with the trays providing advantages in scalability and easier harvesting. Pleurotus species are the second most important mushrooms in production globally, accounting for 25% of total world production, while Shiitake mushrooms are produced by inoculating hardwood logs with the mycelium of the shiitake fungus.
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms derive energy and growth materials from their growth medium
Mushrooms are unique in that they derive all their energy and growth materials from their growth medium, through biochemical decomposition processes. This is in contrast to plants, which rely on photosynthesis to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into carbohydrates, a process fuelled by sunlight. Mushrooms, on the other hand, require all the materials for growth to already be present in their growth medium.
The growth medium for mushrooms can vary, depending on the species and the growing technique employed. Wild mushrooms often grow on wood, while cultivated mushrooms can be grown on a variety of substrates, including sterilised grains, sawdust, straw, newspaper, or woodchips. The substrate chosen will influence the ideal growing conditions, such as temperature and humidity. For example, the relative humidity in the growing room should be balanced to minimise the drying of the casing without causing the cap surfaces of developing mushrooms to become sticky.
One popular technique for cultivating mushrooms is the use of mushroom spawn, which is a living fungal culture, also known as mycelium. Spawn serves as the foundation for mushroom growth, similar to how seeds function in plants. It is typically grown into a substrate, such as grains, sawdust, or woodchips, and can be purchased online or from specialist suppliers. The spawn is then mixed into the compost, either by hand or through a mechanised process, and the desired spawning rate is typically around 1 unit per 5 square feet.
Another technique for cultivating mushrooms is through liquid culture, which is a more advanced method that offers faster colonisation and consistent results. Liquid culture involves a water-based medium enriched with nutrients like malt extract, providing the ideal conditions for the mycelium to thrive. This technique is often used by serious cultivators and those producing mushrooms in bulk due to its efficiency and ability to speed up growth. However, it requires more careful attention to sterile techniques to prevent contamination.
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Mushrooms reproduce through spores
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that derives all its energy and growth materials from its growth medium, through biochemical decomposition processes. Unlike plants, mushrooms do not require sunlight for growth, but some fungi use light as a signal for fruiting. Mushrooms grow well at relative humidity levels of 95-100% and substrate moisture levels of 50-75%.
There are many types of spores, including conidiospores, which are released directly from the tip or side of the hypha. Other spores are formed through the fragmentation of a hypha into single cells, some of which have a thick wall surrounding the fragment. Some spores bud off the vegetative parent cell, and others, called sporangiospores, are produced in a sporangium, a reproductive sac. Asexual spores are genetically identical to the parent and may be released either outside or within a sporangium.
Fungi may utilize both asexual and sexual reproduction, with sexual reproduction often occurring in response to adverse environmental conditions. The process of sexual reproduction includes three stages: plasmogamy, karyogamy, and gametangia. During plasmogamy, two haploid cells fuse, leading to a dikaryotic stage where two haploid nuclei coexist in a single cell. In karyogamy, the haploid nuclei fuse to form a diploid zygote nucleus. Finally, meiosis takes place in the gametangia, where gametes of different mating types are generated and spores are released into the environment.
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Indoor tray growing is the most common commercial technique
Mushrooms derive all their energy and growth materials from their growth medium through biochemical decomposition processes. They do not rely on sunlight for growth, but some fungi use light as a signal for fruiting. Mushrooms grow well at relative humidity levels of 95-100% and substrate moisture levels of 50-75%.
Indoor tray growing is the most common commercial mushroom cultivation technique. This method offers the advantages of scalability and ease of harvesting. The tray technique involves several stages, including composting, fertilizing, spawning, casing, pinning, and cropping. While complete sterilization is not necessary during composting, pasteurization is often included to allow some beneficial microorganisms to remain in the growth substrate. Specific timings and temperatures during stages 3 to 6 will vary depending on the species and variety of mushroom.
Pinning is the most challenging part of the mushroom grower's process, as it involves carefully controlling a combination of carbon dioxide concentration, temperature, light, and humidity to trigger mushrooms towards fruiting. The nitrogen content of the compost should be 2.0 to 2.4 percent, and the moisture content should be between 68 and 72 percent. The air temperature during cropping should be maintained between 57° to 62°F, as this range not only promotes mushroom growth but also helps to control disease pathogens and insect pests.
The spawning process involves mixing spawn (colonised grains or sawdust with mycelium) into the compost. The spawning rate is typically expressed as a unit or quart per square foot of bed surface, with 1 unit per 5 ft^2 being desirable. Additionally, the rate may be expressed as a percentage of spawn weight to dry compost weight, with a 2 percent spawning rate being ideal.
Overall, the indoor tray growing technique provides a scalable and efficient method for commercial mushroom cultivation, requiring careful control of various factors such as spawning rates, compost composition, temperature, and humidity to optimise mushroom growth and fruiting.
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Mushrooms can be grown on logs outdoors
Mushrooms can be grown outdoors on logs, a technique that has been used for hundreds of years. This method does not involve sterilization and, as production may be unpredictable and seasonal, less than 5% of commercially sold mushrooms are produced this way.
To grow mushrooms on logs outdoors, you will need to obtain mushroom spawn (fungal tissue in a carrier medium, usually sawdust) and tools. The best logs for growing mushrooms are freshly cut hardwoods, ideally harvested while the tree is dormant and before any buds appear. Logs with a diameter between 4 and 8 inches work best for log inoculation. It is important to handle these logs gently to avoid damaging the bark, which is needed to maintain moisture and protect the log from being colonized by competitive wild fungi.
Different kinds of mushrooms prefer to decompose different kinds of trees. Oak is the most widely used variety of tree for shiitake cultivation, but other suitable trees include sweet gum, sugar maple, and beech. Pine logs are generally not recommended for mushroom cultivation due to their high resin content, which can inhibit fungal growth. However, some cultivators experiment with pine when growing turkey tail or other hardy polypores.
After obtaining your log, you will need to inoculate it with spawn. To do this, drill holes in the log in a diamond pattern a few inches apart, tap the plug spawn into the holes, and seal the holes with wax. You can then soak the log in water for 24 hours and leave it to incubate for 12 to 15 months. After this, the log should be soaked again, and mushrooms will begin to fruit seven to ten days later.
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Liquid-based culture is a nutrient-rich solution
Mushrooms are cultivated using a variety of methods, including wild harvests, outdoor log inoculation, and indoor tray setups. One such method involves the use of liquid-based cultures, which offer a nutrient-rich environment for mushroom growth. This technique is particularly popular among serious cultivators and those producing mushrooms in bulk due to its efficiency and consistent results.
The liquid-based culture method offers several advantages over other cultivation techniques. One key benefit is its faster colonisation and consistent results. The liquid medium provides the mycelium with immediate access to essential nutrients, promoting rapid growth. Additionally, liquid-based systems tend to have a lower contamination risk compared to spores. However, it is important to maintain sterile conditions to prevent issues with mould and bacteria, which can ruin the setup.
To ensure successful mushroom growth using liquid-based cultures, it is crucial to maintain the right environmental conditions. Mushrooms require specific temperature and humidity ranges for optimal growth. The air temperature during cropping, for instance, should be maintained between 57° to 62°F to favour mushroom growth and inhibit the growth of disease pathogens and insect pests. Additionally, relative humidity should be carefully controlled to prevent the drying of the casing or the mushroom caps.
Liquid-based cultures are an effective method for cultivating mushrooms, offering efficiency, consistent results, and a reduced risk of contamination. By providing a nutrient-rich environment, this technique enables mushrooms to grow rapidly and successfully. However, as with any mushroom cultivation method, proper research, technique, and environmental control are essential for desirable outcomes.
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Frequently asked questions
Cultured mushrooms are mushrooms that have been grown using a specific strain of mycelium, the living fungal culture that is grown into a substrate.
Mushroom spawn is the foundation of any mushroom-growing setup. It is colonised grains or sawdust with mycelium. Spawn is to mushrooms what seeds are to plants.
A liquid culture system is a water-based medium enriched with ingredients like malt extract, which provides the nutrients the mycelium needs to thrive. It is best for faster colonisation and consistent results.
