Mushroom

Technique of Growing Spore of Straw and Oyster Mushrooms

I. Introduction

Even production of mushroom has been formerly made from long and long time now but the productivity does not meet the current demands. The performance of growing mushroom by antique style naturally was made the productivity of mushroom low and unsteady.

Mushroom is a kind of fungus with high alimentation and it gives a lot of advantages to human. Mushrooms contain more essential minerals than red meat, are low in fats and are a good source of protein. Medical research has also shown that mushrooms contain Eritadenine, a substance that helps prevent fat build-up in blood vessels.

Mushroom can be grown under moist environment but not dry. Other environmental factors like temperature, sunlight, spore of mushroom and the technique of growing are also important to maximize the growing of mushroom. E.g. Oyster mushroom can be grown under the condition of medium temperature and warm, moist climates, wood ear mushroom might like hot, humid weather, and straw mushrooms require composting organic material as a substrate and relative darkness for proper growth.

The market price of mushrooms fluctuates according to the season. During the rainy season when the supply of both naturally occurring and commercially grown varieties of mushrooms is unproductive condition the market price of mushroom will be increased. Therefore, to respond the market demands and to be able to make high profit, growers should change the techniques of growing mushroom and make choice upon what kind of mushroom might be easy to grow and fit to the reason of growing.

There recently results of technique and method were made which focused on mushroom spore production found that to be able to make high profit on the growing mushroom by reducing dependence on nature especially if wishing to have mushroom productivity dynamically, first we will have to produce the "spore" which compound by many kinds of substance to be synthesized or mixed agar medium particularly.

Objectives

To produce straw and oyster mushroom spore with appropriated to the rural environment
To establish off farm employment opportunities for farmers
To increase supplementary income source for farmers

Environmental Needed

pH Edible mushrooms vary in pH requirements. Most edible mushroom grows well over the range pH 3 to 7.
Temperature The majority of edible mushroom are wesophilic, growing at temperatures within the optimum temperatures between 20 oC and 25 oC.
Light No mushrooms can manufacture their own food and thus have to rely on dead plant material. Therefore, they do not need light for photosynthesis, especially during mycelium growth, when light would slow down the process. The majority of edible mushroom grow well in the dark. While the light is necessary during the fruiting phase.
Aeration All edible mushroom are aerobic, when grown in tubes, bottles or plastic bags, obtain sufficient oxygen through cotton wood plugs, lose bottle caps or plastic bags.
Watering During the spore production phase, the amount of water needed is not much. Generally 1 litter of drinking water is needed to make mixture of potato and agar in order to cut the internal tissue for first spore propagation. But in watering mushrooms it is advisable to use a fine sprayer. The watering frequency depends on the surrounding atmospheric humidity. If the humidity is low, watering should be done more often and vice versa. If the humidity is more than about 80%, do not water too often.

Moreover, water is very important requisite for mushroom's compost. Water of good quality must be one in which the pH is neutral, it should not be too acidic or too alkaline, and should contain no mineral salts or harmful substances which may hider the development of mushrooms when making compost (water is used about 60-70%).

Mushroom House A mushroom house should not be too large or ventilation may be adversely affected. Besides, a big house would be difficult to clean and it would sustain a great deal of damage should an outbreak of diseases occur.

II. Selection of mushroom variety for producing "spore"

The selection of straw mushroom variety for propagation is to collect fresh, large healthy mushroom, especially desirable are mushrooms with the volva still intact (mushrooms that have not yet opened into and umbrella shape growing naturally in the hay or any kind of varieties by growing). Mushroom variety selected is determined by 30g to 50g weight and the head of mushroom shall be gray, shiny, not bruised or cracking. If mushroom variety might not fit to the above criteria will not be used to make the spore, the selection shall be mushroom with good condition, nice and high quality.

As for Oyster mushroom the selecting variety should be in large size (big mushroom), not bruised or broken, fresh and high quality (see picture 1).

Straw mushroom selected to inoculate "spore"

Oyster mushroom selected to inoculate "spore"

1. Formula for mixing agar and potato

The processes of producing mushroom firstly we have to know that "Spore of mushroom" must need food supplement for its growing as well. Therefore, we are required to produce feeding agar first because this agar will be a very essential food extracted to make growing of mushroom spore.

Formula and ingredients of agar mixing are as following (for 18 bottles):