Common Questions and Answers About King Oyster Mushroom Cultivation
King oyster mushroom, also known as king trumpet mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii), gets its name from its almond-like aroma and the thick, abalone-like texture of its flesh. It is a rare new edible mushroom variety successfully developed and cultivated in recent years, combining food, medicinal, and dietary therapeutic uses. There are many king oyster mushroom products on the market, such as Baishanzu mushroom side dishes——king oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushroom extract, ready-to-eat king oyster mushroom small packages, and individually packaged small packs of king oyster mushrooms, etc.
King oyster mushroom is rich in nutrition, containing protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. It can improve human immune function and has effects on the human body such as anti-cancer, lowering blood lipids, soothing the intestines and stomach, and beautifying.
Nutritional value: Every 100 grams of king oyster mushroom contains: calories (kcal) 31.00, carbohydrates (g) 8.30, fat (g) 0.10, protein (g) 1.30. The protein contains 18 kinds of amino acids, among which the 8 essential amino acids for the human body are all present. It is an edible mushroom with extremely high nutritional and health value.
Questions and Answers About King Oyster Mushroom Cultivation
How should the cultivation time for king oyster mushroom be arranged?
Answer: Based on the requirement that king oyster mushroom fruiting body differentiation temperature be 14-18°C, the suitable bag-making time in low-altitude areas of our city should be arranged from late September to mid-October, and in areas with an altitude above 700 m it can be arranged from early September to the end of September.
How should the king oyster mushroom substrate be prepared?
Answer: Broadleaf sawdust 42%, cottonseed hull 36%, wheat bran 20%, sugar 1%, calcium carbonate 1%; moisture content controlled between 60%-62%; pH 6-6.5.
How should king oyster mushroom be managed during the mycelium-running period?
Answer: Temperature should be controlled at around 24°C, air humidity controlled at 60%-65%, no light is needed during the mycelium-running period, and ventilation is needed 1-2 times per day, 0.5-1 hour each time.
How should fruiting management be carried out for king oyster mushroom?
After the fungus bags have been cultivated for 40-50 days and the temperature has stabilized below 18°C, fruiting management can begin. At this time the temperature should be controlled at 16°C, humidity raised to 85%-90%, and 500 lux of light is needed to induce pinning. When the mushroom buds grow to about 2 cm, remove the bag, cut the bag opening level with the substrate surface, or fold it down leaving one-third, and cover with non-woven fabric, maintaining suitable fruiting temperature and humidity so that the fruiting bodies grow normally.
How should pests and diseases of king oyster mushroom be prevented and controlled?
Answer: Prevention should be the priority for pests and diseases of king oyster mushroom, and the environmental sanitation of the culture room should be kept clean. During the mushroom-growing period, appropriate alternating wet and dry management should be carried out. If disease occurs, carbendazim 500 times solution can be sprayed; if insect pests occur, mushroom insect net and dichlorvos can be used for control at the time of flush transition.
At present, the production of secondary spawn of king oyster mushroom in various places in autumn has been completed, and the production of cultivation bags is about to begin. The autumn fruiting period is best timed to reach the market before the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day so that a good price can be obtained. How to make mushrooms fruit earlier has become a concern for every cultivator. Through many cultivation practices, the author has summarized the following methods to accelerate the mycelial growth rate:
1. Fill less substrate. Using 17-33 cm gusseted bags, the normal filling height is 18-19 cm, which can be adjusted to 14-15 cm high.
2. Make large holes. The diameter of the hole-punching rod used in the bag is 2.5-3 cm. After the ventilation holes are filled with spawn, add another layer on top, so that it grows from top to bottom and inside to outside all at once.
3. Loosen the cotton plug. After the mycelium has colonized 1/3 of the substrate, loosen the cotton plug to enhance oxygen supply capacity.
Through the above methods, the mycelium can be shortened from the traditional about 40 days to 25-30 days.