What causes deformed lion's mane mushrooms? Causes and prevention methods
The lion's mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a premium edible fungus with nutritional and health benefits. As people's living standards rise higher and higher, the demand for it grows greater and greater, and more and more people are cultivating it. However, when cultivating lion's mane mushrooms, people find that the mushrooms develop deformities, which is a real headache. What causes this? Follow along with the editor below for a detailed introduction.
1. Bald, spineless mushrooms
The cause of this deformity type is excessively high temperature and low humidity. Generally, in a temperature environment of around 25 degrees, the fruiting body loses too much through evaporation, but the humidity or moisture is relatively low, so no cycle forms, resulting in no spines developing and the formation of bald mushrooms.
Prevention and control methods: When the temperature is above 25 degrees, promptly open the film or windows to strengthen ventilation and lower the temperature. At the same time, promptly irrigate or spray water mist to increase humidity, keeping humidity above 90%, and promptly cover the shed roof to reduce sunlight exposure and reduce water evaporation.
2. Coral-clustered mushrooms
Coral-clustered lion's mane mushrooms generally have a base that branches repeatedly and clusters together, like a pile of coral. On careful observation of the mushroom body, a root-like rhizomorph connected to the culture substrate can be clearly seen. Many of these fruiting bodies have already grown during the fruiting period, and some can continue to grow; during growth, the tips keep expanding, forming multiple fruiting bodies that look like lion's mane mushrooms. The main cause of this deformed mushroom state is an excessively high concentration of carbon dioxide, which stimulates the stipe to keep differentiating, thereby inhibiting growth and development of the central part.
Prevention and control methods: Strengthen ventilation to reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the air, especially during the fruiting body formation and growth stages. For fruiting bodies that have already formed coral clusters, promptly scrape them off together with the surface culture material, then cultivate again so that fruiting returns to normal.
3. Mushrooms with abnormal color
The surface of this type of deformed mushroom generally turns yellow, with short and thick spines; some fruiting bodies also turn red, and after maturity become pink, with a somewhat bitter odor. The main cause of this mushroom type is excessively low temperature. When cultivating in autumn and winter, because the temperature drops suddenly, if the temperature is below 10 degrees during fruiting body growth, 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 can also turn yellow.
Prevention and control methods: Because it is caused by low temperature, this must be taken into account during cultivation by arranging a suitable time for inoculation and avoiding low-temperature periods. During outdoor cultivation, cover with film to seal it; ventilate during the day and seal it at night to raise the temperature. During indoor cultivation, vents should not be opened too wide, to avoid direct draft blowing onto the mushroom bodies.
The above is an introduction to the causes and prevention methods of deformed lion's mane mushrooms. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.