Michael Davis
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that feeds on organic matter, including dead animal and plant matter, as well as living things like animals, trees, and other organisms. They are unique in that they are not plants, animals, or bacteria but belong to their own kingdom. Mushrooms obtain their nutrients by releasing digestive enzymes into their substrates, breaking down the matter, and absorbing the nutrients. This process also leads to decomposition. While mushrooms themselves are a food source for various organisms, including birds, mammals, insects, and humans, this paragraph will focus on what mushrooms eat to survive and grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom diet | Organic material, including dead animal and plant matter, trees, and other living organisms |
| Types of mushrooms | Saprophytes, parasitic mushrooms, mycorrhizal mushrooms, endophytic fungi, elm oysters, caterpillar fungus, white button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms |
| Mushroom food sources | Wood chips, sawdust, straw, grain, compost manure, wood |
| Mushroom feeders | Ants, beetles, termites, birds, mammals, insects, plants, amoebas, gastropods, nematodes, bacteria, other fungi, humans |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms feed on organic matter
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that feeds on organic matter. They are not plants, animals, or bacteria, but belong to their own separate kingdom. They are the 'fungus' equivalent of a piece of fruit or a flower. Mushrooms obtain their nutrients by releasing digestive enzymes into the organic material around them, breaking it down, and then absorbing the nutrients. This process of decomposition results in the breakdown of organic matter into smaller pieces that can be consumed by nearby plants and fungi.
While all mushroom species grow in the wild, most can be grown at home. The perks of growing your own mushrooms include knowing that the mushrooms are safe to eat and not poisonous. Different types of mushrooms feed differently and use specific organic materials or food sources to obtain their nutrients. For example, white button mushrooms must be grown on compost manure, oyster mushrooms on straw, and shiitake mushrooms on wood.
Oyster mushrooms are one of the easiest mushrooms to grow, and they can feed and grow on over 150 different agricultural byproducts. They can be cultivated on straw and hardwood sawdust. Elm oyster mushrooms grow on living trees, but it is unclear whether they feed on living or dead tissue, so they are considered both parasites and saprotrophs.
In contrast, parasitic mushrooms, such as caterpillar fungus (cordyceps sinesis), consume living things, including animals, trees, and insects, without giving anything back. They metabolize organic matter to obtain their nutrition while supplying the earth with rich humus. Most mushrooms, however, feed on dead animal and plant matter, creating a home and spreading out to find food.
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Parasitic mushrooms feed on living organisms
Mushrooms are unique organisms that are neither plants, animals, nor bacteria. They are the fleshy fruit of an underground fungus. Most mushrooms are saprotrophs, meaning they feed on dead and decaying organic matter. However, a few parasitic mushrooms feed on living organisms.
Parasitic mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of parasitic fungi that extract nutrients from the living tissue of their hosts. They form parasitic relationships with other organisms, including plants, animals, insects, and even other fungi. While mycorrhizal fungi form mutually beneficial relationships with their hosts, parasitic mushrooms feed on the host without giving anything in return. This often causes damage to the host and sometimes even leads to its death.
Parasitic fungi invade their hosts and can be found on plants, trees, insects, and animals. They generally target old or weak trees, killing them and providing light for younger plants. The dead and decaying wood becomes food for other fungi, which break it down and create compost that improves the soil and facilitates new plant growth. Most parasitic fungi feed on plants, and mycologists refer to those that use plant hosts as phytopathogenic fungi. These include mildews, rusts, and smuts, which form mycelial networks inside the tissue of their plant hosts to absorb food from the host's cells.
In addition to plants, parasitic mushrooms can also use insects as hosts. Entomopathogenic fungi, such as the caterpillar fungus (cordyceps sinesis), infect and kill specific species of caterpillars, growing out of the dead caterpillar. These parasitic mushrooms are believed to be aphrodisiacs and are prized in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisine. While most parasites don't produce mushrooms, some, like the caterpillar fungus, do.
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Saprophyte mushrooms eat dead plants and animals
Mushrooms are a unique life form, distinct from plants and vegetables. They are a type of fungus that feeds on nutrients from pre-existing organic matter. Mushrooms cannot create food from light, so they rely on the substrate in which they grow to provide them with the right mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen.
Saprophyte mushrooms are a specific type of fungus that plays a vital role in natural ecosystems. They are primary recyclers of nutrients, breaking down organic matter to release nitrogen, carbon, and minerals that other living organisms can use. Saprophytes are often referred to as "saprotrophic" or "decomposers". They feed on dead and decaying organic matter, including fallen wood, dead leaves, and even dead animal bodies. By breaking down this organic matter, saprophyte mushrooms facilitate the decomposition process and ensure that nutrients are recycled back into the environment.
While saprophyte mushrooms typically feed on dead organic matter, they can occasionally create visible mushroom structures as a means of reproduction. These mushrooms are not always edible, and it is important to properly identify them before consumption. Some of the easiest mushroom species to grow at home are saprophytes, as they can be fed with decaying organic matter. Examples of saprophyte mushrooms include common button, cremini, and portabella mushrooms, as well as oyster, shiitake, reishi, and turkey tail mushrooms.
When growing saprophyte mushrooms, it is important to provide the right growing medium or substrate. Unlike plants, mushrooms thrive in materials such as wood chips, straw, composted manure, or coffee grounds. The ideal growing temperature for mushrooms is between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (23 degrees Celsius), and it is crucial to maintain high moisture levels without standing water and ensure proper airflow.
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Elm oyster mushrooms grow on living trees
Mushrooms are fleshy fungi that grow from spores, not seeds. They can be grown indoors or outdoors, but they do not require sunlight to grow. Mushrooms grow best in a cool, moist climate, with a temperature between 55 and 65°F (13 and 18°C). They also require a specific mix of nutrients, including sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen.
Elm oyster mushrooms (Hypsizygus ulmarius) are edible mushrooms found on the trunks and branches of broadleaf deciduous trees, particularly elms. They are not true oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus) but are named for their similar appearance. Elm oyster mushrooms are larger than oyster mushrooms, with caps ranging from 2.5 to 6 inches in diameter, or even up to 11.8 inches. They have white to cream-colored caps and thick stems that grow perpendicular to the tree.
These mushrooms grow on living trees, often high up on the trunks, and are found in temperate parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America. They typically grow individually or in small groups but can also form dense clusters. Elm oyster mushrooms favour wounds in trees, such as branch scars and knots, and they require temperatures between 55 and 65°F (13 and 18°C) to fruit. They appear from late summer through autumn and into early winter.
Elm oyster mushrooms are sought-after by foragers due to their taste and health benefits. However, they can be challenging to reach as they often grow high up in trees. When foraging, it is important to correctly identify mushrooms as some similar-looking species may be poisonous.
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Mushrooms can be grown at home
Mushrooms are a fleshy fungus species that spawn from spores. They can be grown at home in a few different ways, including both indoor and outdoor methods.
The first step is to buy a freshly made, good-quality indoor grow kit. If you're using wood chips or straw, simply sprinkle the mushroom spawn throughout the growing medium (using some cardboard, if desired) and then wait. If you're using a log, you'll need to drill holes all over the logs, put the mushroom spawn into each hole, and then seal it over with some wax. The logs will need to stay damp. If you’re growing indoors, it's best to grow in a big clear plastic tub, which catches all the spores and keeps the humidity high.
Mushrooms grow best in dark, cool, and humid environments, with temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate some light, but the spot you choose should stay mostly dark or in low light.
There are two ways to plant or inoculate mushrooms: using mushroom spores (the equivalent of plant seeds) or mushroom spawn (the equivalent of plant seedlings). Beginners should use mushroom spawn for their first harvest. Mushroom spawn acts a bit like the starter you need to make sourdough bread. The spawn supports the growth of mushrooms' tiny, white, threadlike bodies called mycelium. The mycelium grows before anything resembling a mushroom pushes through the soil. The spawn itself could grow mushrooms, but you'll get a better mushroom harvest when the spawn is applied to a growing medium. Depending on the mushroom type, this might be straw, cardboard, logs, wood chips, or compost with a blend of materials like straw, corncobs, and cocoa seed hulls.
Some of the easiest mushrooms to grow are oyster, shiitake, wine cap, and lion's mane.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms feed on organic material, including dead animal and plant matter. They can also feed on living things, including animals and trees.
Elm oyster mushrooms grow on living trees, and some parasitic mushrooms, like the caterpillar fungus, use insects as hosts.
Mushrooms need moisture, organic material, and at least two hours of sunlight every day to grow. They can be grown on substrates such as wood chips, sawdust, straw, or grain.
Various organisms, including birds, mammals, insects, and other fungi, have been known to consume mushrooms. For example, certain species of ants, beetles, and jays eat mushrooms.
Oyster mushrooms, white button mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms are some types of mushrooms that can be grown at home using different substrates.
