What ecological conditions are needed for the growth and development of Fuling (Poria cocos)?
(1) Temperature. On PDA (potato, glucose, agar) medium, spores can germinate at 22-28°C, and mycelium can grow at 18-35°C, growing faster at 25-30°C. Sclerotium formation requires alternating temperature conditions with a large day-night temperature difference. Fruiting bodies differentiate and develop at 18-26°C and can produce basidiospores. Mycelium can withstand short-term low temperatures (0-5°C).
(2) Water. For cultivating Fuling, choose dry sloping land. However, Fuling growth requires the log wood to have a water content of 50%-60%. Therefore, soil moisture should be maintained at 25%. During the sclerotium-forming stage, if soil moisture is below 15%, the sclerotium is prone to cracking; in addition to strengthening the mounding of soil, water should be applied in appropriate amounts. However, water must not be excessive, otherwise the Fuling will also drown; after rain, pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging.
(3) Air. Fuling is aerobic, so choose a place with more sand and less clay as the cultivation site. After the log wood is placed in the pit, the soil covering the top must not be too thick, otherwise it will affect air permeability, and the Fuling will not get enough air, so the mycelium cannot spread normally.
(4) Light. The purpose of cultivating Fuling is to harvest the sclerotium. The sclerotium is composed of mycelium, etc., and its growth and development do not originally require light. However, choosing a sunny spot for cultivation is to use solar heat energy to raise the temperature of the gravel in the cultivation site; at night the gravel dissipates heat quickly, creating a large day-night temperature difference, which is beneficial to the formation and growth of the sclerotium.
(5) pH. Mycelium can grow within the pH range of 3-7, with 4-6 being best. Choose weakly acidic sandy loam soil, which helps the cellulase secreted by Fuling mycelium to function, converting the cellulose in the log wood into Poria polysaccharides stored in the sclerotium.
(6) Nutrition. The main nutrient sources for Fuling are the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin of wood. Felled pine wood, pine roots, branches and sawdust, etc., are all raw materials for cultivating Fuling, providing it with nutrients to form the sclerotium. In addition, the soil environment also provides it with some nutrients.