GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

Figure 116. Scanning electron nucrograph of spores
in a frenzied state of spore germination.
mushrooms that require the presence of microfbra,
such as the Button Mushroom (Agaricus
brunnescens) and the King Stropharia (Stmpharia
rugoso-annulata) are excluded. The key requirement
is that the parent mushroom fruits on a
sterilized substrate, within a sterile environment,
and sporulates abundantly. The following
mushrooms are some of those which qualify.
All are wood or straw saprophytes.
Agrocybe aegerita
Flammulina velutipes
Ganoderma lucidum and allies
Lentinula edodes
Pholiota narneko
Pleurotus citrinopileatus
Pleurotus djamor
Pleurotus eryngii
Pleurotus euosmus
GENERATING GRAIN SPAWN 143
Pleurotus ostreatus
Pleurotus pulmonarius
A practical approach is to first sterilize a halffilled
gallon of wood chips which is then
inoculated with grain spawn. After several
weeks of incubation, depending on the species,
mushrooms form within the environment of the
gallon jar. (Supplementation, for instance with
rice bran, oatmeal, or rye flour facilitates mushroom
formation.) Once mature, the mushrooms
are aseptically removed and immersed in sterilized
water. Commonly the water is enriched
with sugar-based nutrients and trace minerals
to encourage rapid spore germination. Millions
of spores are washed into the surrounding broth.
After vigorous shaking (a few seconds to a few
minutes), the spore-enriched liquid is poured
off into another sterile container, creating a
Spore-Mass Master.
Spores begin to germinate within minutes of
Figure 117. Pressurizei vessels in China designed
for spore mass fermentation.
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