GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

354 GROWTH PARAMETERS
are known to be although some people have allergic reactions to certain species. Some
people taking MAO inhibitor
anti-depressant medication can have allergic reactions to the edible
polypores containing tyramine. Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus (Polyporus) suiphureus) has been
reported to contain alkaloids similar to those found in plants known to be psychoactive, like Kava
Kava. (Lincoff& Mitchel (1977)).
The cultivation of these species can take several tracks. One track is to simply inoculate hardwood
logs as with the cultivation of Shiitake. By burying the inoculated logs in sawdust or soil, moisture is
better preserved, and fruitings extend over several years. Stumps can also be inoculated, although if
other fungi have already captured that niche, production is inhibited. Th outdoor environments, the
first flushes of mushrooms are often delayed, not showing for several years after inoculation. However,
since Polypores are naturally lower in moisture and require less water, outdoor patches require
less maintenance than indoor methods.
By far the most dependable and rapid production system is the cultivation of Polypores indoors under
controlled environmental conditions. Several techniques lead to success. One of the main
differences between the cultivation of Polypores versus the fleshier, gilled mushrooms is that the
Polypores do not enjoy, nor require, the heavy watering schedules and high humidities of the gilled
mushrooms. Like most mushrooms, the Polypores are sensitive to carbon dioxide levels and light
conditions. The development of the fruitbodies are extremely responsive to changes within the growing
room environment. Many cultivators manipulate the environment to elicit substantial stem
formation before cap development. Some Polypore species produce better fruitings if the substrate
block is compressed after
colonization. Other differences, unique to each species, are outlined in the
forthcoming growth parameters.
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