Specialty Mushroom Production Systems: Maitake and Morels A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation By Karen Stott & Caroline Mohammed March 2004 RIRDC Publication No 04/024 RIRDC Project No UT-30A © 2004 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 0 642 58734 5 ISSN 1440-6845 Specialty Mushroom Production Systems: Maitake and Morels Publication No. 04/024 Project No. UT-30A The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report. This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186. Researcher Contact Details Karen Stott Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research New Town Laboratories St. Johns Avenue New Town TAS 7008 Phone: (03) 6233 6862 Fax: (03) 6233 6145 Email: [email protected] Caroline Mohammed School of Agricultural Science University of Tasmania GPO Box 252-54 Hobart TAS 7001 Phone: (03) 6226 2717 Fax: (03) 6226 2642 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6272 4819 Fax: 02 6272 5877 Email: [email protected]. Website: http: //www.rirdc.gov.au Published in March 2004 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by Canprint ii Foreword Internationally there is increasing demand for both European and Asian specialty mushrooms. In particular: Maitake, a quality edible and medicinal fungi, and Morel, a fungal delicacy which is currently wild harvested. Australia is well placed to enter the market and meet demand due to its proximity to Asian markets, its multi-cultural heritage and export links with USA, Europe and Asia. Both Maitake and Morel provide opportunities for new entrants to the national mushroom growing industry. Maitake research focussed on (i) developing a technique for the cultivation of maitake based on the Japanese bag method of cultivation; (ii) determining levels of substrate additive which enhance efficient substrate colonisation and primordia initiation; (iii) identifying maitake isolates with the best commercial potential; (iv) providing the industry with a commercially viable maitake production system. Morel research focussed on (i) providing the industry with a wide range of Tasmanian Morel isolates; (ii) identifying Tasmanian isolates to species level; (iii) investigating triggers for sclerotia production; (iv) comparing the production of sclerotia by Tasmanian isolates with overseas reference isolates; (v) selecting Tasmanian isolates which produce the largest sclerotia for further research. Building on the successful R&D outcomes from RIRDC projects DAT-30A (The development of commercially viable culturing and fruiting systems for some Asian specialty mushrooms) and UT-12A (Preliminary investigation on "French" black morel cropping) this project identified suitable Maitake isolates for commercialisation, determined additives to ameliorate eucalypt sawdust for substrate, and trialed a production technique. A large collection of Morel isolates was obtained and preliminary studies on their ability to produce sclerotia, a precursor to fruit body production, were completed. Extensive literature reviews about Maitake and Morels summarise both published and anecdotal information. This project was funded from RIRDC Core Funds which are provided by the Australian Government. Funding was also provided by HAL and industry partner Huon Valley Mushrooms. This report, a new addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1000 research publications, forms part of our Asian Foods R&D Program, which encourages development of a viable industry in Australia. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.htm purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Simon Hearn Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments Sincere thanks to industry partner Huon Valley Mushrooms (HVM) for their support. We would also like to thank the many individuals who have supported this project, in particular: Richard Vaughan and Jeff Lee for their assistance in setting up large substrate trials at HVM. Two honours students contributed to the project, Andrew Measham and Nick Mendham. Thanks also to students who participated in the project as part of their degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania. Tertiary and Further Education students completing the Laboratory Technician Course, acted as short term technical staff, to complete their work placement component of their training, their assistance is gratefully acknowledged. iv Contents FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................................III ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................................IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................... VII Maitake............................................................................................................................................................. vii Morels ............................................................................................................................................................. viii SPECIALTY MUSHROOM PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: MAITAKE AND MORELS............................... 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 1 LITERATURE REVIEW: MAITAKE PRODUCTION AND RELEVANCE OF LITERATURE TO PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA ....................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Nutriceutical aspects .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Market background ............................................................................................................................................ 8 Description of sporocarp development............................................................................................................... 8 Factors influencing sporocarp production........................................................................................................ 11 Commercial cultivation methods...................................................................................................................... 14 Production cycle............................................................................................................................................... 15 Evaluation of cultivation methods.................................................................................................................... 17 Growing Maitake in Australia.......................................................................................................................... 17 PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIQUID SPAWN OF GRIFOLA FRONDOSA......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Materials and methods ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Results.............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Discussion ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 Industry outcomes ............................................................................................................................................ 24 CULTIVATION OF MAITAKE ON AMELIORATED EUCALYPT SAWDUST ..................................... 25 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................... 25 Materials and Methods..................................................................................................................................... 25 Results.............................................................................................................................................................. 31 Discussion .......................................................................................................................................................