Key Techniques for Summer Cultivation of Black Wood Ear (Auricularia heimuer) in Forest Intercropping
How do you cultivate black wood ear in forest intercropping in summer? Please provide guidance. Under normal conditions, black wood ear grown in forest intercropping should produce 3 flushes. However, at present, after some first-flush wood ears are harvested, the bags become infected with contaminant microorganisms before the second flush even emerges, causing reduced yields or even total crop failure in the second and third flushes, which hurts profits. I. Causes of contaminant microorganism infection during flush transition: (1)...
How do you cultivate black wood ear in forest intercropping in summer? Please provide guidance.
Under normal conditions, black wood ear grown in forest intercropping should produce 3 flushes. However, at present, after some first-flush wood ears are harvested, the bags become infected with contaminant microorganisms before the second flush even emerges, causing reduced yields or even total crop failure in the second and third flushes, which hurts profits.
I. Causes of contaminant microorganism infection during flush transition: (1) High temperatures in summer. When the temperature inside the bag exceeds 38°C, the fungal proteins denature, causing the mycelium to die; the mycelium gradually softens and exudes yellow liquid, and Penicillium and other contaminant microorganisms first infect the harvested sites, eventually spreading throughout. (2) Harvesting too late. Harvesting too late causes the fruiting bodies to lose elasticity, age, and leak internal nutrients, resulting in rotten wood ears. (3) The bases of the previous flush's wood ears were not cleaned thoroughly. The remaining bases, because the wounds are exposed, are easily infected directly by contaminant microorganisms. (4) The cut surfaces of the mycelium have not healed. During harvest, new cut surfaces form in the mycelium, and growth is very weak with poor resistance to contaminant microorganisms; watering to force the next flush at this time easily leads to contaminant microorganism infection. (5) The straw curtains are rotting and moldy. The straw curtains covering the cultivation bags for shade and moisture retention, because of overly frequent watering, have already become moldy and rotten by the time the second flush emerges, infecting contaminant microorganisms and causing the cultivation bags to become contaminated. (6) The bed surface was not cleaned. After harvest, the bed surface often has scattered culture medium, fruiting bodies, and debris fallen from the straw curtains; after the straw curtains are put back and watering begins, contaminant microorganisms develop and then spread to the cultivation bags. (7) High humidity on the straw curtains and bed surface. After harvest, before the second-flush fruiting bodies form, the mycelium has a period of healing cut surfaces, resting and recuperating, and accumulating nutrients, which is a stage of high temperature and low humidity. If after harvest the bags are placed directly on the moist fruiting bed and covered with wet straw curtains, staying moist and dark, contaminant microorganism contamination is very likely. (8) The cultivation bags were not dried under direct sunlight after harvest. Placing the bags directly under direct sunlight after harvest to reduce moisture and sterilize can inhibit mold growth, and the mycelium heals and recovers quickly. However, care should be taken to avoid the high temperatures and intense light at midday. (9) Watering too early and too frequently. If the bags are watered too early after harvest, before the second-flush fruiting bodies have formed and sealed the harvested sites, contaminant microorganism infection will also occur.
II. To prevent contaminant microorganism contamination, form the next flush as early as possible, and increase yield, the following measures should be taken: (1) Harvest promptly. The wood ears can be harvested when the fruiting body lobes are fully expanded, the edges become thin and wrinkled, and the bases shrink. Black wood ears harvested at this time have strong elasticity, no nutrient loss, and the best quality. (2) Remove the fruiting bodies together with their bases completely. During harvest, lift the straw curtains and let sunlight shine through so that the moisture in the fruiting bodies decreases and they shrink moderately, making them less likely to break during harvest and easier to pull out with the bases. Pulling out the bases completely helps the next flush form, and having no residual bases can inhibit mold growth. (3) Disinfect the straw curtains regularly. The straw curtains are always exposed outside and contain a large amount of moisture, making them highly prone to contaminant microorganisms. Therefore, before fruiting and after harvest, they must be disinfected with Kemeiwang to prevent the straw curtains from rotting or growing contaminant microorganisms. (4) Clean the bed surface and disinfect thoroughly. After harvest, remove the straw curtains and cultivation bags from the bed surface, clean up the residual culture medium, fruiting bodies, and debris fallen from the straw curtains, and then disinfect with drugs such as Kemeiwang and thiophanate-methyl. (5) The cultivation bags, fruiting bed, and straw curtains must be dried in the sun. The cultivation bags should be sun-dried while avoiding exactly midday, with every side of the bag exposed to the sun, for 3-5 hours, so that the surface of the mycelium at the harvested sites dries. The bed surface and straw curtains should be thoroughly air-dried in the sun. Place the sun-dried bags, cover with the sun-dried curtains, and rest the mycelium for 7-10 days, then manage according to the method for the first flush. During this stage, pay attention to ventilation and strictly guard against excessive temperature. (6) Arrange a suitable fruiting period. For the fruiting body growth period, try to choose a time when the local temperature is 10-25°C. If high temperatures occur, lift the straw curtains and sun-dry the wood ears growing on the bags to stop their growth and prevent rotten wood ears; after the temperature drops, water again and continue managing for fruiting. (7) When producing the third flush, because the fruiting capacity is insufficient afterward and the wood ear slices grow slowly, reduce the number of waterings and the amount of water applied. When the growth of the wood ear slices clearly stalls, lift the straw curtains and let sunlight (avoiding strong light) dry the wood ear slices and bed surface, then cover with the straw curtains again; after 2-5 days, water, taking care to water frequently and as a fine mist. Note: when watering, water thoroughly, and when drying, dry thoroughly; otherwise, normal growth of the wood ear will be affected. Along with watering, supplemental nutrient solutions such as Gufengsu and triacontanol can be applied.
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