GROWING GOURMET - Anto2ni.it

GROWTH PARAMETERS 367
Natural Method of Cultivation: Outdoors on buried logs or stumps. Logs or stumps are inoculated
via plug or sawdust spawn as described on page 34.
Fruiting Substrates: Indoors on hardwood sawdustlchips. 5% supplementation of the sawdust with
rice bran or sorghum enhances yields. From my experiences, I have found that over-supplementation
with rice bran, beyond 15% of the dry mass of the substrate, inhibits fruitbody development.
Recommended Containers for Fruiting: Polypropylene bottles, bags andlor similar containers.
Yields: From my experiments, yields on first flush average between 125-200 grams wet mass from
2200-2300 grams wet mass in 30-60(90) days via the rapid cycle system. (Fruitbodies are 80% water,
10% less in moisture content than fleshier fungi.) Second flushes 25-50% of first. Yields from log!
stump culture are approximately 1-2 lbs. per year.
Harvest Hints: If polypropylene bags are punctured, a stem-less conk is produced under well
lighted, low carbon dioxide conditions. With this strategy, a broad conk snaps off cleanly from a 1/4
inch hole. If stems are encouraged to form by raising carbon dioxide or lowering ambient lighting, the
mushrooms can be harvested by first twisting the stem base from the substrate and then trimming debris
from the stem base. At 50% nil, mushrooms dry quickly in the open air at room temperature.
After the mushrooms have dried, some cultivators short-cycle sterilize their mushrooms by placing
them into the autoclave. This heat treatment retards or prevents the birth of any insect larvae from
eggs which may have been deposited during mushroom development.
Form of Product Sold to Market: Dried, whole mushrooms have been traditionally used in Oriental
medicine. However, many other forms are marketed, including in pill, tea, and tincture forms. Ginseng
and Ling Chi are often extracted and combined in liquid form by a number of Chinese
pharmaceutical collectives. I have also seen cultured mycelium extracted for use in syrups. Antler
forms are often preserved as works of art, portrayed in museums or temples, handed down through
generations as family heirlooms, and even sold to tourists. (See Figures 315 and 316). Ling Chi is
used in beers and wines as a medicinallflavor additive is also popular in Japan and China.
Nutritional Content: Not known.
Medicinal Properties: For centuries, the Chinese and Japanese literature has heralded this mushroom
for its health invigorating effects, especially attributing it with increasing longevity, treatment
of cancer, resistance and recovery from diseases. Himalayan guides have used this mushroom to
combat high altitude sickness. Mayan Indians have traditionally employed this mushroom (or a
closely related species) in teas to fight a variety of communicable diseases. Reishi has become the
natural medicine of choice by North Americans, and has become especially popular amongst
immunocompromised groups in recent years.
A complex group of polysaccharides have been isolated from this mushroom which reportedly
stimulate the immune system. One theory is that these polysaccharides stimulate helper "T" cell production
which attack infected cells. Ganoderic acids have also been isolated from Ling Chi and
purportedly have anti-coagulating effects on the blood and lower cholesterol levels. (See Morigawa
et al., 1986). Most recently, studies have been published showing its modulating effects on blood
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