Preparation of Mushroom Growing Substrates - North American Mycological Association (2024)

FAQs

What are the substrates used for mushroom cultivation? ›

Substrate prepared specifically for growing mushrooms is a blend of natural products. Common ingredients are wheat straw bedding containing horse manure, hay, corn cobs, cottonseed hulls, poultry manure, brewer's grain, cottonseed meal, cocoa bean hulls and gypsum.

It describes the key steps as: preparation of spawn/seed by inoculating wheat grains with fungal mycelium; preparation of the substratum or growing medium by processing materials like rice straw or bagasse; cultivation using the cylindrical block system by layering spawn and substratum in bags; maintaining proper ...

As the popularity of mushroom farming continues to grow, the use of coco coir as a substrate provides an environmentally friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional growing media.

An effective pasteurization will eradicate harmful bacteria, nematodes, insects and fungi. In general a compost substrate temperature of 140° F for 4 hours is adequate for a complete pasteurization.

How to prepare a cardboard-based substrate: There's no need for a recipe when it comes to growing on cardboard. Simply gather as much cardboard as you need and soak it in boiling water. After allowing your cardboard to cool and squeezing out any leftover water, you're ready to colonise it with mushroom spawn.

Therefore, sterilizing these substrates becomes essential as it eradicates all living and dormant organisms and fungal spores, providing the best possible start for mushroom mycelium. However, low-nutrient substrates like straw, sugarcane bagasse, coco coir, hardwood sawdust, and cardboard only require pasteurization.

The six steps are Phase I composting, Phase II composting, spawning, casing, pinning, and cropping. These steps are described in their naturally occurring sequence, emphasizing the salient features within each step. Compost provides nutrients needed for mushrooms to grow.

Two growth media, one agar-based and one gelatin-based, can be used to culture the mycelium of oyster mushroom; they are listed below. 200 g of thin slices of potato. 20 g glucose, or 20 g sucrose (table sugar).

Pure culture of mushrooms can be prepared either by multi-spore or by tissue culture. Multi-spore culture is made from spore print that can be obtained by hanging a alcohol sterilized fresh fruit body on a loop of wire above a petriplate/sterilized paper.

Some studies suggest that coco coir may provide slightly better growth rates than peat moss due to its higher nutrient content, but this may vary depending on the specific plant being grown and the conditions it is grown in.

What is better, vermiculite or coco coir? ›

If you have plants that require a nutrient-rich medium or prefer a slightly acidic pH, coconut coir may be the better option. However, if you rely on regular fertilization and prefer a neutral pH, vermiculite can serve as a suitable growing medium.

Gently submerge the bag or container with the substrate into the boiling water. Maintain the water at a simmer, not a rolling boil, to keep it at around 160° F (71° C). Pasteurize the substrate for at least 1 hour. Use a thermometer to monitor the water temperature.

5), and thus can be attributed fully to the loss of physically adsorbed water. The increase in heat release between 100 and 200 °C can be attributed to the release of flammable low molecular weight volatiles. Mycelium starts to decompose at approximately 225 °C.

Cold Water Bath Pasteurization (with additives like lime, wood ash, soap, chlorine, or vinegar): Generally requires soaking the substrate for 12 to 24 hours, depending on the specific method and conditions.

The main nutrients are less nitrogen and more carbon so materials containing cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin (i.e., rice and wheat straw, cotton seed hulls, sawdust [SD], waste paper, leaves, and sugarcane residue) can be used as mushroom substrates [8]. Oyster mushroom can grow on a wide variety of substrate.

Hardwoods such as oak, beech and maple make for a great substrate for many types of mushrooms, especially when combined with a bran supplement. Soy hulls can be mixed with hardwood sawdust at different ratios to produce extremely effective and high yielding substrates, particularly for growing oysters.

The hyphae use the process of extracellular digestion to digest nutrients that are then absorbed by mycelia. To grow fungi, it is important to have the proper organic substrate such as hardwood or straw. Moisture is essential for the growth of any fungus.

Manure/Compost

Manure is the aged, dried excrement of horses, cows, elephants, etc. It is one of the most effective bulk substrates for dung loving species like psilocybe cubensis, panaeolus cyanescens and agaricus bisporus (Portobello). It is usually cheap or free if it can be located.