The Mushroom Cultivator
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The Mushroom Cultivator A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home by Paul Stamets & J.S. Chilton Produced by Paul Stamets and J.S. Chilton The authors invite comments on The Mushroom Cultivator as well as personal experiences concerning mushroom cultivation. Address all mail to Agarikon Press. © 1983 Paul Stamets and J.S. Chilton original source: http://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Permaculture/Mushroom_Cultivator-A_Practical_Guide_to_Growing_Mushrooms_at_Home.pdf backup source: http://www.psilosophy.info/resources/Mushroom_Cultivator-A_Practical_Guide_to_Growing_Mushrooms_at_Home.pdf To Azureus, Skye, and LaDena Table of Contents: FOREWORD by Dr. Andrew Weil PREFACE I. INTRODUCTION TO MUSHROOM CULTURE An Overview of Techniques for Mushroom Cultivation Mushrooms and Mushroom Culture The Mushroom Life Cycle II. STERILE TECHNIQUE AND AGAR CULTURE Design and Construction of a Sterile Laboratory Preparation of Agar Media Starting a Culture from Spores Taking a Spore Print Techniques for Spore Germination Characteristics of the Mushroom Mycelium Ramifications of Multispore Culture Starting a Culture from Live Tissue Sectoring: Strain Selection and Development Stock Cultures: Methods For Preserving Mushroom Strains III. GRAIN CULTURE The Development of Grain Spawn Preparation of Grain Spawn Spawn Formulas Inoculation of Sterilized Grain from Agar Media Inoculation of Grain from Grain Masters Alternative Spawn Media Sawdust/Bran Spawn Perlite Spawn Liquid Inoculation Techniques Incubation of Spawn IV. THE MUSHROOM GROWING ROOM Structure and Growing Systems soma rights re-served 1 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai Structure Shelves Trays Environmental Control Systems Fresh Air Fans Air Ducting Filters Exhaust Vents Heating Cooling Humidification Thermostats and Humidistats Lighting Environmental Monitoring Equipment V. COMPOST PREPARATION Phase I Composting Basic Raw Materials Supplements Group I: High nitrogen, no organic matter Group II: 10-14% N Group III: 3-7% N Group IV: Low nitrogen, high carbohydrate Group V: Animal manures Group VI: Hay Group VII: Minerals Gypsum - Calcium sulfate Limestone flour - Calcium carbonate Group VIII: Starting materials Compost Formulas Formula I Formula II Ammonia Carbon:Nitrogen Ratio Water and Air Pre-wetting Building the Pile Turning Temperature Long Composting Short Composting Short Compost Procedure Synthetic Compost Procedure Composting Tools Characteristics of the Compost at Filling Supplementation at Filling Phase II Composting Basic Air Requirements Phase II Room Design Filling Procedures Depth of Fill Phase II Procedures: Trays or Shelves Phase II in Bulk Bulk Room Design Features Bulk Room Filling Procedures Bulk Room Phase II Procedures soma rights re-served 2 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai Testing for Ammonia Aspect of the Finished Compost Alternative Composts and Composting Procedures Sugar Cane Bagasse Compost The Five Day Express Composting Method VI. NON-COMPOSTED SUBSTRATES Natural Culture Semi-sterile and Sterile Wood Based Substrates Growing on Pasteurized Straw VII. SPAWNING AND SPAWN RUNNING IN BULK SUBSTRATES Moisture Content Substrate Temperature Dry Weight of Substrate Duration of Spawn Run Spawning Methods Environmental Conditions Super Spawning Supplementation at Spawning Supplementation at Casing (S.A.C.) VIII. THE CASING LAYER Functions Properties Materials Casing Formulas and Preparation Application Casing Colonization Casing Moisture and Mycelial Appearance IX. STRATEGIES FOR MUSHROOM FORMATION (PINHEAD INITIATION) Basic Pinning Strategy Primordia Formation Procedures Stage I: Preparation Stage II: Environmental Transition - The Prelude to Setting Primordia Stage III: Primordia Formation (Knotting) Stage IV: Pinhead Development The Relationship Between Primordia Formation and Yield The Influence of Light on Pinhead Initiation X. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: SUSTAINING THE MUSHROOM CROP Temperature Flushing Pattern Air Movement Watering Harvesting Harvesting techniques Preserving Mushrooms XI. GROWING PARAMETERS FOR VARIOUS MUSHROOM SPECIES Agaricus bitorquis A. bitorquis - Growth Parameters Agaricus brunnescens A. brunnescens - Growth Parameters Coprinus comatus C. comatus - Growth Parameters Flammulina velutipes F. velutipes - Growth Parameters Lentinus edodes L. edodes - Growth Parameters Lepista nuda soma rights re-served 3 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai L. nuda - Growth Parameters Panaeolus cyanescens P. cyanescens - Growth Parameters Panaeolus subbalteatus P. subbalteatus - Growth Parameters Pleurotus ostreatus P. ostreatus - Growth Parameters Pleurotus ostreatus (Florida variety) P. ostreatus (Florida variety) - Growth Parameters Psilocybe cubensis P. cubensis - Growth Parameters Psilocybe cyanescens Psil. cyanescens - Growth Parameters Psilocybe mexicana P. mexicana - Growth Parameters Psilocybe tampanensis P. tampanensis - Growth Parameters Stropharia rugoso-annulata S. rugoso-annulata - Growth Parameters Volvariella volvacea V. volvacea - Growth Parameters XII. CULTIVATION PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS: A TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE Sterile Technique Agar Culture Grain Culture Compost Preparation Phase I Phase II Spawn Running Case Running Mushroom Formation and Development Pinhead Initiation Cropping XIII. THE CONTAMINANTS OF MUSHROOM CULTURE: IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL A Key to the Common Contaminants of Mushroom Culture Virus (Die-Back Disease) Actinomyces (Firefang) Bacillus (Wet Spot) Pseudomonas (Bacterial Blotch & Pit) Streptomyces (Firefang) Alternaria (Black Mold) Aspergillus (Green Mold) Botrytis (Brown Mold) Chaetomium (Olive Green Mold) Chrysosporium (Yellow Mold) Cladosporium (Dark Green Mold) Coprinus (Inky Cap) Cryptococcus (Cream Colored Yeast) Dactylium (Cobweb Mold) Doratormyces (Black Whisker Mold) Epicoccum (Yellow Mold) Fusarium Geotrichum (Lipstick Mold) Humicola (Gray Mold) Monilia (White Flour Mold) Mucor (Black Pin Mold) soma rights re-served 4 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai Mycelia Sterilia (White Mold) Mycogone (Wet Bubble) Neurospora (Pink Mold) Papulospora (Brown Plaster Mold) Penicillium (Bluish Green Mold) Rhizopus (Black Pin Mold) Scopulariopsis (White Plaster Mold) Sepedonium (White or Yellow Mold) Torula (Black Yeast) Trichoderma (Forest Green Mold) Trichothecium (Pink Mold) Verticillium (Dry Bubble) XIV. THE PESTS OF MUSHROOM CULTURE Mushroom Flies Fly Control Measures Sciarid Fly Phorid Fly Cecid Fly Mushroom Mites Nematodes (Eelworms) Saprophagous Nematodes Mycophagous Nematodes XV. MUSHROOM GENETICS Introduction What Are Genes? What Do Genes Do? The Advantage of Multiple Copies of Genes Chromosomes Mitosis Meiosis Reproductive Strategies Asexual Reproduction in the Fungi Sexual Reproduction in Mushrooms Implications for Culture Work Culture Trials Spore Dilution Technique APPENDICES Appendix I - Medicinal Properties of Mushrooms Appendix II - Laminar Flow Systems The Air The Filter The Fan Laminar Flow Designs Appendix III - The Effect of Bacteria and Other Microorganisms on Fruiting Appendix IV - The Use of Mushroom Extracts to Induce Fruiting Appendix V - Data Collection and Environmental Monitoring Records Spawn Making Compost Making: Phase I Compost Making: Phase II Spawn Running Casing: Case Running Pinhead Initiation Cropping Flushing Pattern Appendix VI - Analyses of Basic Materials Used in Substrate Preparation Dry Roughages of Fibrous Materials soma rights re-served 5 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai Concentrates Appendix VII - Resources For Mushroom Growing Equipment and Supplies Appendix VIII - English to Metric Conversion Tables PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY soma rights re-served 6 since 10.01.2016 at http://www.en.psilosophy.info/ the mushroom cultivator www.en.psilosophy.info/gntqsqxwbwbcbtchcfamcuai FOREWORD by Dr. Andrew Weil Ever since French growers pioneered the cultivation of the common Agaricus more than two hundred years ago, mushroom cultivation in the Western world has been a mysterious art. Professional cultivators, fearful of competition, have guarded their techniques as trade secrets, sharing them only with closest associates, never with amateurs. The difficulty of domesticating mushrooms adds to the mystery: they are just harder to grow than flowering plants. Some species refuse to grow at all under artificial conditions; many more refuse to fruit; and even the familiar Agaricus of supermarkets demands a level of care and attention to detail much beyond the scope of ordinary gardening and agriculture. In the past ten years, interest in mushrooms has literally mushroomed in America. For the first time in history the English-speaking world is flooded with good field guides to the higher fungi, and significant numbers of people are learning to collect and eat choice wild species. In the United States and Canada mushroom conferences and forays attract more and more participants. Cultivated forms of species other than the common Agaricus have begun to appear in specialty shops and even supermarkets. The reasons for this dramatic change in a traditionally mycophobic part of the world may never be known. I have been