Sender: "brianmc" Subject: MycoInfo (Jan, 12, 1994) ******************************* ****MYCOINFO JAN 12, 1994**** ******************************* The following is something I considered so important, that rather than excerpt portions of it, I'm reposting it in it's entirety. The original was a post from Marc Alter to T J Crebs Date: 94-01-12 19:42:28 EST From: TJCrebs Subj: Re: Florida Cultivation Message To: Allanmar, BrianMc Brian & Allan, A Post from Marc Alter which I thought you both would like: Allan for growing more PA-shiitake and Pa-Oysters and Brian maybe for adding to his MycoInfo. Marco is very good. Make sure you give him your regards. Regards, T. P.S. I put on the Mushroom Folder--the 2nd-most active folder on the Gardening Exchange with 50 postings, yeah!!! -------------- Forwarded Message: Date: 94-01-11 17:53:49 EST From: Malter Subj: Re: Florida Cultivation Message To: TJCrebs Terry, Here is the article. I started to chop it up for posting at one time but ran out of patience/interest/time. Feel free to perform surgery on it! Marc ----------------- From: Stephen L. Peele [72253,1553] Marc, You have my permission to run the said mushroom articles on America OnLine. You might also mention that FMRC is making plans to open a Mushroom Conference Forum on INTERNET. This should come about within the next two months. Persons who are interested in linking up should contact me thru E-Mail for more information. Stephen L. Peele/FMRC ----------------- Taken from "THE MUSHROOM CULTURE", The Journal Of Mushroom Cultivation, Issue Number #21, July 1993.....Published by FMRC CULTIVATING TECHNIQUES FOR SHIITAKE" By STEPHEN L. PEELE, Curator, Florida Mycology Research Center (FMRC), P.O. Box 8104, Pensacola, FL 32505 1-904-327-4378 (CIS i.d. = 72253,1553) Taken from "THE MUSHROOM CULTURE", The Journal Of Mushroom Cultivation, Issue Number #4, Jan. 1985 Cultivating Techniques for the Shiitake Mushroom, Lentinus edodes The Shiitake Mushroom is indeed taking America. There are many reasons pushing this boom. Not only do they taste great, many now believe this mushroom holds powerful medicinal compounds that not only prevent cancers, but also induce the production of interferon, and reduce the serum chloresterol levels. Because these mushrooms are grown on wood, they lack that "earthy" taste which many dislike about the button mushroom (the ones seen most offten in the grocery store). This gives the Shiitake even more followers, who before, did not like mushrooms. One of the following cultivating methods describes the use of oatmeal. Mushrooms grown on oatmeal are by far the very best. These mushrooms may even develop a special market. Log Method This has been the traditional method of the Japanese for thousands of years. It has also been the choice of commercial production in this country. Hardwood logs are used, oak (except the evergreen oaks), alder, maple, and chestnut. The logs are cut from live trees, and in the winter while the sap is down. A five inch diameter, and 2 1/2 foot length log is a good standard. All branches should be removed, and careful attention should be given not to damage the bark in any way. After being cut, the logs are then dried out, away from direct sun light, and up off the ground. This can take from 30 to 90 days. Drill six to eight holes about the log using all sides. If wooden dowel spawn is used, the holes are placed 3/4 of an inch deep, and are wide enough so that the dowel fits snug. If sawdust spawn is used, the holes should be 1/2 inch wide. Warm wax, or plastic plugs are used to seal points of inoculations. Some growers claim that inoculation of the logs as soon as they are cut, because of the higher moisture content, is best. Others state that the drying destroys the natural resistance defenses of the log, allowing the spawn to run best. The logs are stacked up like firewood, up off the ground, and in a shaded area. Logs outside will stay dormant until spring. To start immediate growth, the logs are held at 72 degress F. After four to six months of growing, the mycelium will break out from the ends of the logs. When this occurs, the logs will be ready to fruit. Whether you inoculate in dry or fresh logs, the 72 degree F temperature factor will mainly determine the length of time for the growth period. A 50-60 percent moisture content should be maintained on the logs. Logs left out side may not produce fruit until the second year. Logs held in a controlled environment at 72F should fruit the following fall. To induce pinning, the logs are soaked in water. They also can be sprayed with water for 14 hours. Within seven days primordia development, the birth of small mushrooms, should be observed. Within several days the mushrooms will mature (3-6). From the second year on, mushrooms can be produced in the spring also. One log can produc better than one pound each year, and they can produce fruit for up to five years. Other Methods Sawdust from the proper logs can be mixed 4:1 with bran. As with the logs, a 50-60 percent moisture content is best. The sawdust/bran mixture is sterilized. After inoculation, it is held at 72F. Sawdust alone can be used, but bran is needed as a casing, causing an extra step, and longer growth period. No light is needed. To induce pinning, the sawdust blocks are soaked in water like the logs. 62F temperature and the addition of filtered natural light enhance this stage. Hickory Chips can now be used for production of these mushrooms with a new strain of Shiitake developed by FMRC. This new strain, simply called "Hickory Chip Strain", now makes the home cultivation of this mushroom easier than ever. Because bread molds, yeasts, and other contaminants can not grow on these chips, they indeed make the ultimate substrate (Hickory chips can be found next to the charcoal in most supermarkets). The use of thse chips eliminates the number one reason for mushroom crop failure, contamination. Hickory chips with mycelia growth are simply added to chips which have been moistened. A casing of bran is sometimes needed for pinning, but if chips have good bark content, fruiting occurs without casing. Several good sized chips, well taken with "hickory Chip Strain", are available from FMRC. No sterile technique is required. Spawn runs using the above methods is much faster than using logs. Within 30-65 days after inoculation blocks are fully taken by the mycelium. Hence, these methods produce mushrooms much quicker, within four months. Oatmeal Method This method uses oatmeal as the fruiting substrate. Using oatmeal is more difficult. Because it will support a lot of other growths, contamination must be controlled. Home growers should use quart canning jars for sterile chambers. Add 2/3 cup of oatmeal, and 1 1/3 cups distilled water into the jar. Place sealing edges up so that jars will not seal (this rubber seal must be up and not against the jar). Leave the screw band loose so that jar will not seal. You do not want the jar to seal.....if it does, it will explode inside the pressure cooker when it is sterilized. Set pressure at 15-20 lbs and cook for 40-45 minutes. The jars are then taken out and placed in a sterile area where they are left to cool. The cooling area must be sterile or the air that will be pulled back into the jar as it cools will be loaded with contaminants. This will cause for sure failure. After the jars have cooled, they are inoculated, and held at 72F. Filtered natural light is given daily. This method can produce fruit within 19 days. If pinning does not occur soon after oatmeal has been taken, simply place the chambers in the refrigerator. Within several days, primordia should be observed. The jars are then uncovered and sat out to fruit. The room or compartment used for this fruiting stage should have a high humidity.....85-100 percent. Jars will produce several good flushes until the oatmeal can no longer support growth. There are some other methods of inducing pinning if this problem occurs. The bark plays an important role of stimulating the mycelium into fruiting. When aqueous extracts of oak bark were tested, it stimulated the fruiting of this mushroom. It has been found that nickel and tin are the stimulatory factors. Either of these two inorganic elements will stimulate fruiting when added in small concentrations (ppm). Many thanks to Gary F. Leatham, Ph.D., USDA Forest Service, and to Bob Harris of MUSHROOMPEOPLE for their help in this research. Cultivating Techniques for the Pleurotus ostreatus, the Oyster Mushroom By STEPHEN L. PEELE, Curator, Florida Mycology Research Center (FMRC), P.O. Box 8104, Pensacola, FL 32505 1-904-327-4378 (CIS i.d. = 72253,1553) Taken from "THE MUSHROOM CULTURE", The Journal Of Mushroom Cultivation (TMC), Issue number #1, April 1984 This mushroom has a light colored cap that is shaped like an oyster shell. When found in the wild, they sometimes appear in large overlapping (imbricate) clusters. It is found on dead wood. The oyster-shell-like caps, no stalk, sessile growth habit, and gills extending down to the base, are the distinctive characteristics of this mushroom. It has a white to buff spore print. The Pleurotus sapidus is a variant of the Pleurotus ostreatus. It is also referred to as Pleurotus floridia because it is mainly only in Florida. It has a lilac-colored spore print. Both of these mushrooms are choice edibles. It has a fragrant ordor, sometimes that of anise.....especially the Pleurotus sapidus. AGAR - Malt Extract Agar: Malt Extract 20 Grams. Agar 15 Grams. Peptone 5 Grams. Water 1 Liter. SPAWN JARS - Barley, and rye grain do very well. It is important to use the spawn before it "sets". After taking over the jar, the mycelium will start to set, or turn hard. Once this happens, the spawn will not inoculate the fruiting substrate properly. Once the grain is fully taken.....use the spawn then. Keep the spawn jars 80 degrees F for best results. FRUITING - Several substrates can be used to cause fruiting. Straw, a 4 to 1 mixture of sawdust and bran, and even news paper has been used. Logs from many different trees can be used including willow, aspen, beech, and even pine. See how to prepare logs in #4 TMC, Shiitake Cultivation. Sterilized wheat straw gives great results. Here is a real easy method. Take a large Reynold's oven cooking bag and place the straw inside. Use wet straw with 80 percent moisture content. After sterilizing, you will then have a sterile chamber with media. Once cooled, it is then inoculated with spawn from the grain jars. PVC fittings can be used to incorporate filter. A .3 micron is best. Or, bag is placed in sterile area and a few small holes are put in the bag with a knife. This is to allow CO2 exchange. Hold temperature at 80 degrees F. Light is not needed for this stage. Keep high humidity. Once the straw is fully taken over, you are then ready for the next step. With this type of mushroom, no casing is needed. A drop in temperature along with filtered sunlight is all that is needed to cause pinhead initiation. Fluorescent lighting will also do fine. Drop temperature to 55 degrees F. and set light for 12 - 14 hours a day. Sometimes just placing the project in the home refrigerator will start pinhead initiation. This will happen in about two weeks. Once the young mushrooms have started, the project is then placed in a warmer location of 65 degrees F. The bag may also be removed at this stage. Use the same amount of light, or just simply place out in the open where filtered sunlight can be used. Keep moist, don't let the project get dry. Spray with water every day if it is needed (never use city tap water with any mushroom cultivation. It contains chlorine). Mushroom production will usually equal the weight of the straw when it was dry. Several strains of pleurotus ostreatus produce laccase. Pleurotolysis is also produced by a specific strain. The antiviral antibiotic "Pleuromutilin" is extracted from the Pleurotus passeckerianus.