Lab 12

Mushroom production

Purpose

The purpose of this laboratory exercise on November 14, 2012, was to grow pearl oyster and Shiitake mushrooms using purchased kits. On the last day of class on November 28, we are going to eat the mushrooms while drinking the beer we made during a previous laboratory exercise.

Materials and Methods

Gourmet pearl oyster and Shiitake mushroom growing kits

Disposable foil pans

Bottled spring water

Plant stakes  

Spray bottle 

Results

Instructions that came in the pearl oyster mushroom growing kit.

Pearl oyster mushroom patch consisting of pasteurized straw colonized by mushroom mycelia. In the corner of the box you can see the octopus/coral form of the mushroom that formed and grew through holes in the plastic bag due to light starvation during shipping and storage of the patch. Mushrooms like a shady location but not total darkness to grow. And direct sunlight will dry out the patch and hinder mushroom growth.

Bottled spring water is being used to mist mushroom patches daily, but water from a well or rain also may be used. Chlorinated water discourages the growth of mushrooms, and distilled water lacks the nutrients mushrooms need to survive.

Danny misting outside of pearl oyster mushroom patch with purchased spring water. The disposable foil pan helps contain any water that runs off the patch after misting, which needs to be done daily. Mushrooms need humidity to grow properly.

Danny places a plastic tent that came in the kit over the misted pearl oyster mushroom patch to create a humid chamber. Plant stakes were used to "inflate" the tent like a teepee. Notice that the bag the patch came in is not removed prior to tenting. It has holes for mushrooms to form and grow through, as illustrated on the cover of the kit instructions.

Instructions that came in the Shiitake mushroom growing kit.

Shiitake mushroom patch consisting of a unique blend of sterilized, enriched sawdust and wood chips colonized with a select strain of Shiitake mushroom. The patch looks like popcorn. Growing of the mushrooms is "initiated" by first refrigerating the patch 3-5 days. That was done prior to the start of the laboratory exercise.

Danny covers the refrigerated Shiitake mushroom patch with purchased spring water, but well, rain or boiled tap water also may be used. The patch had to soak at least two hours. The patch was removed from the plastic bag, placed in a disposable foil pan and covered with a plastic tent that came in the kit. We did not use plant stakes to inflate the tent for this patch.

Octopus/coral form of the pearl oyster mushroom that had grown out of the bagged patch into the corners of the shipping box. The mushroom felt soft and somewhat rubbery. 

But as you can see, the octopus/coral form of the pearl oyster mushroom found in the box was edible and quite tasty. After all his hard work, Danny found time to sample this form of the mushroom.

Shiitake mushrooms emerged from patch after 4 days of daily misting.

Shiitake mushrooms after 6 days of daily misting.

Shiitake mushrooms after 11 days of daily misting.

Pearl oyster mushrooms emerged from patch after 6 days of daily misting.

Pearl oyster mushrooms after 11 days of daily misting.

Discussion 

We will continue to mist both patches daily and hope for a bountiful crop to eat while drinking our amber pale ale (see Lab 10 blog and updates) and watching our classmates' presentations of their unknown fungal projects during our last lab for the semester on November 28.