Analysis of Key Technical Points for High-Grade Lion's Mane Mushroom Cultivation

IV. Bag Placement in the Field to Induce Directional Fruiting

Lion's mane mushroom is an aerobic fungus, and the cultivation site requires fresh air, making an outdoor mushroom shed relatively ideal. After about 25 days of indoor mycelial incubation, when the mycelium reaches physiological maturity, it shifts from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. Lion's mane mushroom typically begins to form primordia and differentiate into fruiting bodies before the mycelium has fully colonized the bag. Therefore, close observation is needed, and the bags should be promptly moved to a shaded outdoor shed for placement, and the surface layer of the original spawn block should be scratched off to induce uniform directional fruiting.

There are currently 3 common placement methods: The first is building 4-5 tiers of shelving for intensive three-dimensional cultivation. The second is building 1 tier of shelving with 2 bags placed per spot. One bag is laid flat on the ground with the hole facing up, and one bag is laid flat on the shelf with the hole facing down. The third is simulating open-field shiitake cultivation. Bags are leaned at an angle, or ridges are built on both sides with single bags laid flat and holes facing down.

Comparing the above 3 methods, the first has high space utilization and forms a three-dimensional arrangement, but has poor moisture retention and easily produces bald mushrooms and shriveled mushrooms. The latter two are favorable for the formation of spines on the fruiting body and give a whiter color. This is because the spines of lion's mane mushroom have a pronounced "geotropic" growth tendency, but during the rainy season, if water accumulates in the bed and ventilation is poor, mushroom rot easily occurs. During the fruiting period with angled bag placement, do not easily turn or rearrange the bags, otherwise the spines will not grow along the proper direction and will become deformed mushrooms.

V. Controlling the Ecological Environment to Promote Quality Improvement

To obtain high-quality lion's mane mushroom products, the following aspects of management must be strengthened during the fruiting stage.

1. Temperature regulation. After the bags are moved to the field, the temperature should be lowered from the original incubation temperature to the optimal fruiting temperature of 16°C-20°C for pinning induction. Under suitable temperature conditions, from small pinheads to developed mushrooms, harvesting is generally possible in 10-12 days. When the temperature exceeds 23°C, fruiting body development slows down, causing the stipe to continuously proliferate, and the mushroom body to spread into a cauliflower-like deformed mushroom, or a bald mushroom without spines. Above 25°C, the mushroom body may also shrink. Therefore, during the fruiting stage, special attention must be paid to temperature control. If the specified temperature is exceeded, 4 measures can be taken: ① Increase mist spraying in the space. ② Irrigate the bed trenches to increase humidity. ③ Thicken the shade covering of the shed. ④ Stagger ventilation times, lifting the film for ventilation in the morning and evening. At noon, open both ends of the covering film to allow air circulation. Create a suitable temperature to promote the smooth growth of young pinheads.

2. Strengthen ventilation. Lion's mane mushroom is an aerobic fungus. If ventilation is poor, excessive carbon dioxide accumulation stimulates continuous branching of the stipe and inhibits development of the central part, resulting in coral-like deformed mushrooms. Under such saturated humidity and still air, deformed fruiting bodies are even more likely to form, or contaminant microorganisms may proliferate and cause contamination. For this reason, in outdoor bed cultivation, the film should be lifted for ventilation for 30 minutes at 8 AM every day. When the fruiting bodies grow larger, ventilate in the morning and evening every day, appropriately extending the ventilation time. But never let the wind blow directly onto the fruiting bodies, so as to avoid shriveling. (To be continued)