How to Grow and Select White King Oyster Mushrooms? What Is the Difference Between Them and King Oyster Mushrooms?
When people hear the name white king oyster mushroom, they may not be very familiar with it, but in fact it is also a type of edible fungus we commonly eat. White king oyster mushroom has delicate flesh, tastes delicious in soup, and can also be steamed or stir-fried. It is a precious edible fungus with high medicinal value as well. So what are the cultivation methods for white king oyster mushroom? How do you select white king oyster mushroom? What is the difference between white king oyster mushroom and king oyster mushroom? What are the nutritional values of white king oyster mushroom?
I. Cultivation Methods for White King Oyster Mushroom
1. Cultivation Time
For off-season cultivation, the inoculation period is from June to July. After 20-30 days of mycelial growth, the bags overwinter through summer in July to August, and fruiting bodies are produced from the end of September to October.
Substrate Formulas
[Formula One]: 94% cottonseed hulls, 2.8% cornmeal, 1% gypsum, 2% lime, 0.2% urea.
[Formula Two]: 40% cottonseed hulls, 40% sawdust, 10% wheat bran, 8% cornmeal, 1% sugar, 1% gypsum. For the above formulas, the moisture content should be kept at 60%-65%.
2. Mixing and Fermentation
Dissolve the water-soluble sugar, urea and other ingredients in water. After mixing the remaining raw materials, add water and stir repeatedly until evenly combined, then pile them into a trapezoidal heap with a width of 1-1.5 m, a height of 1.2-1.5 m and unlimited length. Make ventilation holes every 30-50 cm on the heap, with a hole diameter of 7-10 cm, and make 2 rows of ventilation holes on each side. Cover the top of the heap with plastic film to retain moisture, and leave 30-50 cm at the bottom of the heap uncovered. When the heap temperature rises to 65°C-70°C, turn the heap. Ferment for 7-10 days, turning the heap 3 times.
3. Bagging
White king oyster mushroom is always cultivated in bags. The cultivation bags are made of high-density polyethylene or polypropylene film with a thickness of 0.04-0.06 cm, a width of 15-17 cm and a length of 35 cm. Before bagging, adjust the moisture of the fermented substrate so that its moisture content remains at 60% and its pH remains at 7.5-8.5. When bagging, first tie one end of the bag opening, then evenly fill the substrate into the bag, with 0.95-1.05 kg of substrate per bag.
4. Sterilization
Sterilize the filled substrate bags under high pressure for 2-3 hours, or under normal pressure for 10-18 hours. After sterilization, take out the substrate bags and place them in an inoculation room or a clean place to cool.
5. Inoculation
When the bag temperature drops to 30°C, open the bag opening in an inoculation room or inoculation box, and under aseptic operation inoculate the spawn from both ends or one end, with an inoculation amount of 10% of the substrate.
6. Mycelial Growth Management
Move the inoculated bags into the culture room and stack them on the bed frames. Before placing the bags, spray carbendazim in the culture room for disinfection. After placing the bags, spray for disinfection once every 5-7 days. Keep the culture room temperature at 22°C-27°C and the air humidity at about 70%. Cultivate in the dark. After 10-15 days of mycelial growth, when the mycelia at both ends have covered the substrate surface, turn the stack. After 35-40 days of cultivation, the mycelia can fully colonize the bags.
After the bags are placed in the summering site, check the humidity regularly and ventilate. When the autumn temperature turns cooler, move the bags into the mushroom house for management.
II. How Do You Select White King Oyster Mushroom?
When going to the supermarket to buy white king oyster mushroom, you can choose from three aspects. First, look at the color: those with a pure white fruiting body are better. Then look at the shape: those with a relatively large cap and a short stipe are better. Finally, check the feel: you can touch it with your hand, and it is better if the surface is relatively firm and has no damage.
III. What Is the Difference Between White King Oyster Mushroom and King Oyster Mushroom?
Many people may confuse white king oyster mushroom with king oyster mushroom because their appearance is very white, but the two are completely different types of mushrooms. In fact, they can be distinguished by appearance and taste:
Appearance: King oyster mushroom has a longer stipe and a relatively smaller cap; the cap is gray and the stipe is white. White king oyster mushroom has a relatively larger cap and a very short stipe, resembling lingzhi, and both the stipe and cap are pure white.
Taste: King oyster mushroom has a very obvious taste characteristic, that is, a faint almond flavor.
So white king oyster mushroom and king oyster mushroom are still very easy to distinguish.
IV. Nutritional Value of White King Oyster Mushroom
Similar to other edible fungi, white king oyster mushroom also contains a variety of essential amino acids, vitamins and some minerals. These nutrients have effects such as enhancing body immunity, promoting body metabolism, and resisting oxidation and delaying aging.
Besides being a food ingredient, white king oyster mushroom is also a medicinal material. In traditional Chinese medicine, white king oyster mushroom is often used to treat poor appetite, and it also has effects such as reducing inflammation and treating gynecological inflammation.