GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

244 GROWTH PARAMETERS
Mycelial Characteristics:
Mycelium white, cottony at first, soon
linearly rhizomorphic with a
silkish sheen. Soon after colonization of a 100 x 15 mm. MYA petri dish, the mycelium develops
zones of tawny or rusty brown discolorations emanating from the site of inoculation and predominating
in age. On sterilized sawdust this discoloration immediately precedes primordia formation.
Fragrance Signature: Pleasant, sweet, reminiscent of the refreshing fragrance from a newly rained
upon forest, similar to the scent of the King Stropharia (Stropharia rugoso-annulata).
Natural Method of Cultivation: Hardwood logs can be pegged or sawdust inoculated and laid horizontally
side by side. Untreated sawdust can be used to bury the logs to 1/3 their diameter. Oak,
chestnut, and perhaps the stumps of similar hardwoods can be inoculated using any one of the methods
described in this book.
Recommended Courses for Expansion of Mycelial Mass to Achieve Fruiting: When a sample of
hardwood sawdust is added to the liquid fermentation broth, the mycelium grows more vigorously
than without. After 3-4 days of fermentation, the liquid inoculum should be distributed directly into
sterilized grain. This grain spawn can be expanded several more generations or used directly for implantation
into sterilized, supplemented sawdust. Oak sawdust is preferred. After 50-60 days from
inoculation, the substrate can be initiated by lowering temperature to the prescribed levels.
SuggestedAgar Culture Media: MYPA, OMYA, PDYA or DFA.
1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation Spawn Media: Grain spawn throughout, or alternatively sawdust
spawn for the 3rd generation. Plug spawn can be created from sawdust spawn.
Substrates for Fruiting: Supplemented alder, chestnut, poplar, hickory, cottonwood or oak sawdust,
logs and stumps.
Recommended Containers for Fruiting: Bottles, bags or trays.
Yield Potentials: . 25 to .50 lbs. of fresh mushrooms per 5 lbs. of moist supplemented sawdust.
Harvest Hints: Cluster formation should be encouraged as well as stem elongation to facilitate harvesting.
Clusters can be firmly grasped and the base substrate trimmed off. Mushrooms are better
presented as a "cluster bouquet" than individually separated. The brilliant yellowish zone around the
cap margin in contrast to the reddish brown color makes this mushroom aesthetically pleasing to the
eye.
Form of Product Sold to Market: Fresh and dried. Some mycophiles in Midwest prefer to pickle
this mushroom. This mushroom, known as Kuritake (the Chestnut
Mushroom) in Japan, is primarily
marketed in fresh form.
Nutritional Content: Not known to this author.
Medicinal Properties: Like H. capnoides, I believe this mushroom is worthy of investigation for its
potential medicinal properties. The only reference I have found is a short note in Icons of Medicinal
Fungi, which states that "the inhibition rates of Hypholoina sublateritiurn (Fr.) Quel. against sarcoma
180 and Ehrlich carcinoma (sic) is 60% and 70% respectively. " (Ying 1987, p.325). The reference
supporting this claim is in Chinese and lacks further elaboration.
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