In bioscience and microbiology research, culture media, as the basic carrier for microbial growth and reproduction, is prepared with critical steps such as sterilization and mixing. This article will help you understand the preparation of suitable culture media and provide a complete set of media cultivation solutions, from media configuration to the successful cultivation of edible mushrooms with good quality and stable yield.
Which medium for growing mushrooms is needed for cultivation?
In actual mushroom cultivation, instead of the solid agar medium commonly used in laboratories, solid substrates rich in organic matter are used to cultivate mushrooms. These solid substrates are usually composed of agricultural waste, wood processing by-products or grain processing residues, etc., which are properly formulated and treated to serve as the basic environment for mushroom growth.
For example:
1. wood chips: it is the main substrate material for cultivating common edible mushrooms such as shiitake, flat mushroom, almond abalone mushroom, etc. It can be wood chips of broad-leaved tree species or coniferous tree species.
2. cottonseed husk: commonly used in the cultivation of enoki mushrooms, straw mushrooms and other varieties, because it is rich in nitrogen source, which can provide good nutritional conditions for mycelium.
3. corn kernel: after crushing and processing, corn kernel can be used as an excellent culture substrate for mushrooms such as Agaricus bisporus.
4. wheat bran, soybean meal: as supplementary carbon and nitrogen sources of auxiliary materials, often mixed with wood chips or other major substrates.
5. straw, corn stover: can also be used as substrate components for some mushroom cultivation after composting.
The use of these mediums for growing mushrooms offers a variety of benefits, including but not limited to:
1. providing mushrooms with nutrients needed for growth, including carbon, nitrogen, and trace elements, which help promote rapid growth and development of mushroom mycelium.
2. able to maintain appropriate humidity, providing favorable environmental conditions for mushroom growth.
3. provides the support needed for mushroom growth, enabling them to grow and develop stably. The supportive role of the medium is especially important for some species of mushrooms that need to grow in three-dimensional structures.
4. Many culture media can be prepared from waste or inexpensive resources, such as wood chips, straw, wheat bran, etc., which can help to reduce the waste of resources and at the same time improve the efficiency of resource utilization.
5. Suitable culture medium can help to inhibit or exclude some possible pathogenic microorganisms, reduce the occurrence of diseases during the growth of mushrooms, and ensure the healthy growth of mushrooms.
How to Making Substrate For Mushrooms?
Material Preparation
Use containers of appropriate size, such as plastic bags, plastic buckets or bottles, etc., for containing the culture medium and mushroom strains. Make sure the container has proper aeration.
Mixing
In the case of wood shavings, for example, place the wood shavings in a large container and add an appropriate amount of water so that they are well moistened but not overly wet. Typically, the ratio of water to wood chips is 1:2 to 1:5.
Add lime powder to adjust the pH to a suitable range (usually between 5.5 and 6.5) and a mineral supplement such as gypsum powder or potassium phosphate, as appropriate. Make sure the substrate is moist but not overly wet.
If desired, add other supplementary materials such as wheat bran and corn stalks to improve the texture and nutrient content of the medium.
Mix well and let it sit for some time to fully absorb the water.
Mixing, as an important part in the process of mushroom cultivation, is not only related to the quality and applicability of the medium, but also directly affects the growth and yield of mushrooms. Therefore, it is important to take the mixing operation seriously and adopt appropriate measures and techniques to ensure the smooth progress of mushroom cultivation.
Sterilization
The prepared medium is heated to the appropriate temperature to kill any harmful microorganisms that may be present. This can usually be done using methods such as steam sterilization or high temperature baking. Ensure that the medium maintains sufficient humidity during treatment to avoid excessive drying.
1. Prepare the medium: Fill culture containers with prepared mushroom medium, making sure that the containers are tightly sealed and leave enough space for the medium to expand during the sterilization process.
2. Load into steam sterilizer: put the container with culture medium into the steam sterilizer, make sure the container is firmly placed to avoid moving or tipping over during the heating process.
3. Adjusting parameters: Set the operating parameters of the sterilizer, including pressure, temperature, and hold time.
4. Execute the sterilization process: When the equipment reaches the set pressure and temperature, start the timer and maintain it for a specified period of time to allow the high temperature steam to fully penetrate into the culture medium and kill all potential microorganisms. The duration is usually between 30 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the type and volume of the medium.
5. Cooling and pressure release: After sterilization, the door lock should not be opened immediately, and the internal pressure of the sterilizer should be reduced to atmospheric pressure through natural cooling or fan-assisted cooling. Some models of sterilizers have automatic pressure relief function.
6. Removal and storage: When the pressure gauge indicates zero, and the temperature is suitable for the operator to contact, the lid of the sterilizer can be slowly opened to remove the culture medium containers that have been sterilized and transferred to a clean environment for storage or subsequent inoculation in accordance with aseptic operating procedures.
7. Quality check: In order to verify the sterilization effect, biological indicators (e.g., thermophilic Bacillus spores) can be placed in the sterilized batch and observed to see if they survive to confirm the success of sterilization.
Sterilization using a steam sterilizer requires strict adherence to operating procedures to ensure that the culture medium is effectively sterilized. At the same time, to ensure the safety of the operator, it is important to avoid possible hazards caused by high pressure inside the steam sterilizer.
Inoculation
Inoculation of mycelium is one of the key steps in the mushroom cultivation process. After the medium has cooled down sufficiently, mushroom strains are introduced into the medium to promote the growth of mycelium and the formation of mushroom bodies. Usually, the bag culture method is used, in which the mixed mycelium and medium are put into a plastic bag, and then the mouth of the bag is tied tightly or closed with a clip.
The following are the general steps for inoculating mycelium:
1. Prepare the culture medium: Make sure that the medium has been sterilized and cooled to a suitable temperature. Usually, the medium should be cool before inoculating the mycelium to avoid harming the mycelium.
2. Prepare the strain: Prepare the mushroom strain, usually a block of mycelium cultured in the medium or spores from the medium. Ensure the purity and vigor of the strains to promote the rapid growth of mycelium.
3. Inoculation medium: Disperse the prepared strains evenly on the surface of the medium or mix them into the medium. Inoculation can be carried out by placing blocks of strains directly on the surface of the medium or by dispersing them in the medium and mixing them gently.
Containers with medium and mycelium are placed under suitable environmental conditions for cultivation. Mushrooms usually need to be grown in an environment with high temperature and humidity. During the incubation process, it is necessary to check the humidity and mycelial growth inside the container periodically to ensure that the incubation conditions are stable and appropriate.
Incubation
When the mycelium grows sufficiently in the medium and forms mycelial clumps, subsequent treatments can be carried out. This usually includes measures such as increasing ventilation and regulating humidity to promote mycelium formation and mushroom production. When the mushrooms begin to grow and mature, they can be picked and harvested.
Conclusion
Mushroom cultivation is not only a technical endeavor, but also an art that requires patience and care. In mushroom cultivation, mixing and sterilizing are critical steps to ensure clean media and mycelial growth. By mixing the medium, the demand for various nutrients of a specific mushroom strain during its growth and development is met, promoting good mycelial growth. By properly executing the sterilization procedure, we can effectively eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms and create a good environment for the healthy growth of mushrooms.
Cultivating quality mushroom products also requires continuous efforts and experience. Only by constantly improving and refining cultivation techniques can we achieve better harvests and quality to meet market and consumer demands. The medium used to grow mushrooms is designed to create an optimal growing environment for edible mushrooms, ensuring their healthy and rapid growth and enhancing the overall economic and ecological benefits.
