GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

EVALUATING
sustained. Without secondary exposure to light
post primordia form ation, Oyster mushrooms,
in particular, malform. Their stems elongate
and the caps remain undeveloped. This response
is similar to that seen in high CO2
environments. In both cases, long stems are
produced. This response makes sense if one
considers that mushrooms must be elevated
above ground for the caps and subsequently
forming spores to be released. Oyster, Shiitake
and Reishi all demonstrate strong photosensitivity.
8. Requirement for cold shock The classic
initiation strategy for most mushrooms calls
for drastically dropping the temperature for
several days. With many temperate mushroom
strains, the core temperature of the substrate
must be dropped below 60-65° F. C.)
before mushroom primordia will set. Once
formed, temperatures can be elevated to the 70-
A MUSHROOM STRAIN 121
e 98. Phototropic response of two strains of Ganoderma lucidum to light.
80° F. (2 1-27° C.) range. This requirement is
particularly critical for strains which have
evolved in temperate climates, where distinct
seasonal changes from summer to fall precedes
the wild mushroom season. Because of their
cold shock requirement, growing these strains
during the summer months or, for instance, in
southern California would not be advisable.
Strains isolated from subtropical or tropical climates
generally do not require a cold shock .As
a rule, warm weather strains grow more quickly,
fruiting in half the time than do their coldweather
cousins. Experienced cultivators
wisely cycle strains through their facility to best
match the prevailing seasons, thus minimizing
the expense of heating and cooling.
9. Requirement for high temperature
Many warm weather strains will not produce at
cooler temperatures. Unless air temperature is
elevated above the minimum threshold for trig-
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