An introduction to the latest distribution of enoki mushroom production areas

The scientific name of the enoki mushroom is Flammulina velutipes, also known as velvet-foot fire mushroom, shiitake, huaigu, winter mushroom, pugu, frozen mushroom, golden mushroom, intelligence mushroom, and so on. It is widely cultivated all over the world. Let us take a look below at what the production area distribution of the enoki mushroom is!

Production area distribution of the enoki mushroom

The enoki mushroom is widely distributed in nature, found in China, Japan, Russia, Europe, North America, Australia, and other places. In China, from Heilongjiang in the north to Yunnan in the south, and from Jiangsu in the east to Xinjiang in the west, all are suitable for the growth of the enoki mushroom. Lingshou in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, grows large quantities of white enoki mushrooms, and every November and December they are sold in equal amounts to various places.

Grade classification of the enoki mushroom

1. Grade 1 enoki mushroom: the cap is semi-spherical, with a diameter of 0.5-1.3 cm, a stalk length of 14-15 cm, a uniformity of more than 80%, no brown roots, and no impurities.

2. Grade 2 enoki mushroom: the cap has not opened, is semi-spherical, with a diameter of 1.2-1.5 cm, a stalk length of 13-15 cm, and the base of the stalk is light yellow to light brown, with the colored length not exceeding 1.5 cm, and no impurities.

3. Grade 3 enoki mushroom: the cap diameter is 1.5-2 cm, the stalk length is 10-15 cm, and the yellow-brown portion at the base of the stalk accounts for 1/3, with no impurities.

Growing conditions of the enoki mushroom

1. Nutrition: the enoki mushroom is a saprophytic fungus and can only absorb nutrients from ready-made culture material through its mycelium. In cultivation, the choice of culture material has a great influence on yield and quality. The nutrients required for the growth of enoki mushroom mycelium and the development of fruiting bodies include nitrogen nutrition, carbohydrate nutrition, mineral nutrition, and a small amount of vitamin nutrition.

2. Temperature: the enoki mushroom is a low-temperature fruiting fungus. The mycelium can grow within the range of 5-32°C, but the optimum temperature is 22-25°C. The mycelium is relatively tolerant of low temperatures, but has weak resistance to high temperatures, stopping growth and even dying above 34°C. Fruiting body differentiation takes place within the range of 3-18°C, but the optimum temperature for formation is 8-10°C. At low temperatures the enoki mushroom grows vigorously; when the temperature is too high, the stalk is slender and the cap is small. At the same time, the enoki mushroom can be stimulated to initiate fruiting body primordia when the temperature difference between day and night is large.

3. Moisture: during the mycelial growth stage, the water content of the culture material is required to be 65%-70%. Below 60%, mycelial growth is poor; above 70%, the oxygen in the culture material decreases, affecting normal mycelial growth. During the stage of fruiting body primordium formation, the relative air humidity in the environment is required to be about 85%. During the fruiting body growth stage, the relative air humidity should preferably be maintained at about 90%. If the humidity is low, the fruiting body cannot grow fully; if the humidity is too high, pests and diseases are likely to occur.

4. Air: the enoki mushroom is an aerobic fungus and needs to continuously absorb fresh air during its metabolic process. During the mycelial growth stage, a trace amount of ventilation can meet the needs of mycelial growth. During the fruiting body formation stage, a large amount of oxygen is consumed. Especially in large-scale cultivation, when the accumulated carbon dioxide concentration in the air exceeds 0.6%, the formation of fruiting bodies and the development of the cap will be inhibited.

5. Light: both the mycelium and the fruiting body can grow under completely dark conditions, but under completely dark conditions the cap of the fruiting body grows slowly and small, and malformed mushrooms are mostly formed. Weak scattered light can stimulate cap growth, while overly strong light will inhibit stalk growth. For enoki mushrooms, which are mainly eaten for their stalks, paper tubes can be added during the cultivation process to block light and promote stalk elongation.

6. pH: the enoki mushroom requires a slightly acidic environment. The mycelium can grow within the range of pH 3-8.4, but the optimum pH value is 4-7, and the optimum pH value during the fruiting body formation stage is 5-6.