Causes of Deformed Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) and the Latest Control Methods
Lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a premium edible mushroom with nutritional and health value. As people's living standards rise higher and higher, the demand for it is also growing, and more and more people are cultivating it. However, when cultivating lion's mane mushroom, deformed conditions are found to appear, which is quite a headache. What causes this? Let's take a look at the detailed explanation below.
1. Bald, thornless mushroom
The cause of this type of deformity is excessively high temperature and low humidity. Generally, in a temperature environment of around 25 degrees, because the fruiting body has too much evaporation but the humidity or moisture is relatively low, no cycle is formed, so no spines form and a bald mushroom results.
Control method: When the temperature is above 25 degrees, promptly close the film or open the windows to strengthen ventilation and lower the temperature. At the same time, irrigate or spray water mist in time to increase humidity, keeping humidity above 90%, and promptly cover the top of the shed to reduce sunlight exposure and reduce water evaporation.
2. Coral-clustered mushroom
Coral-clustered lion's mane mushrooms generally have multiple branches clustering from the base, like a pile of coral. On careful observation of the mushroom body, a root-like rhizomorph connected to the substrate can clearly be seen. Many of the fruiting bodies in this condition have already grown during the fruiting period, and some can continue to grow; during growth, the tips keep swelling, forming multiple fruiting bodies like lion's mane mushrooms. The main cause of this deformed mushroom state is excessive carbon dioxide concentration, which stimulates the stipe to keep differentiating, thereby inhibiting growth and development of the central part.
Control method: Strengthen ventilation to reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the air, especially during the fruiting body formation and growth stage. For fruiting bodies that have already formed coral clusters, promptly scrape them off together with the surface culture material, then continue cultivation so that fruiting returns to normal.
⟦NL>3. Abnormal-colored mushroom
This type of deformed mushroom generally has a yellowing surface color and short, thick spines; some fruiting bodies also turn red, becoming pink at maturity, with a somewhat bitter odor. The cause of this mushroom is mainly excessively low temperature. When cultivated in autumn and winter, because the temperature drops suddenly and the temperature during fruiting body growth is below 10 degrees, the mushroom body turns red, and the color deepens as the temperature drops further. In addition, during indoor cultivation, because of ventilation, when the fruiting body is stimulated by stagnant wind, the mushroom body also turns yellow.
Control method: For cases caused by low temperature, this must be considered during cultivation by arranging a suitable inoculation time and avoiding low-temperature periods. For field cultivation, cover with film to seal it; ventilate during the day and seal at night to raise the temperature. For indoor cultivation, vents should not be opened too large, to avoid direct drafty wind blowing on the mushroom bodies.
The above is an introduction to the causes of deformed lion's mane mushrooms and the control methods. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.