Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Techniques for Dictyophora edulis

I. Biological Characteristics

1. Morphology. Dictyophora, also known as bamboo ginseng, bamboo fungus, immortal fungus, bamboo maiden and bamboo egg, belongs to the class Basidiomycetes, order Phallales, family Phallaceae, genus Dictyophora. Dictyophora consists of two parts: the mycelium and the fruiting body. The mycelium is initially white and downy, then gradually thickens into threads, and finally expands into mycelial cords. Young mycelium is pure white, but with prolonged cultivation it may turn pink, light purple or yellowish-white. The fruiting body consists of four parts: the cap, the indusium (skirt), the stipe and the volva.

2. Living habits of Dictyophora. In summer and autumn, Dictyophora grows singly or in groups in bamboo forests, mixed forests of bamboo and broadleaf trees, and at the edges of courtyard woodland. 3. Living conditions of Dictyophora. Dictyophora is a saprophytic fungus; its mycelium can absorb the carbon, nitrogen and inorganic salts it needs from decaying bamboo, decaying wood, bamboo roots, bamboo rhizomes and humus soil. For artificial cultivation, various bamboo by-products, wood chips, wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse can be used as carbon sources, and wheat bran, rice bran and soybean cake powder as nitrogen sources. Dictyophora is a mesophilic fungus. The mycelium can grow at 10-29°C. The fruiting body develops at 16-29°C, with 22-25°C being the most suitable; the suitable relative humidity for the mycelium is 70-75%, and the suitable relative air humidity for fruiting body growth is 90-95%. The mycelium can grow in the dark or under weak light. It prefers a slightly acidic environment and requires good ventilation.

II. Cultivation Methods

1. Preparation of spawn.

(1) Formula and preparation of mother spawn medium.

① Medium formula: peptone 1%, glucose 1%, agar 2%, water 100 ml. pH 5-6. ② Potato 25%, glucose 2%, agar 2%, water 100 ml. pH 5-6. (2) Preparation of the medium: prepare according to conventional methods, fill into tubes, sterilize, and make into slants.

(2) Preparation of stock spawn and cultivation spawn. First: crushed bamboo pieces (1-2 cm) 65%, wood chips 15%, wheat bran 20%, add water until the moisture content of the substrate is 65%. Second: miscellaneous chips 75%, wheat bran 20%, sugar 1%, gypsum 1%, soybean cake powder 3%, add water and adjust until the moisture content of the substrate is 60-65%.

Mix ingredients, fill bottles, sterilize, inoculate and incubate according to conventional spawn-making methods. At a temperature of 18-23°C, the stock spawn takes about 60 days to fill the bottle, and the cultivation spawn takes 40-50 days to mature.

2. Cultivation methods. Dictyophora can be cultivated when the temperature is above 7°C, and cultivation in October to December is preferable.

(1) Indoor box cultivation: use discarded wooden boxes as cultivation containers. First spread 5-10 cm of humus soil on the bottom of the box, then spread bamboo segments, wood segments or other substitute materials on top, and inoculate Dictyophora cultivation spawn onto the substrate. Use 3 bottles of spawn per square meter, finally cover with 5-8 cm of fertile soil, water thoroughly, and incubate at room temperature for mycelial growth. Sprinkle water frequently to keep it moist. Under suitable temperature and humidity conditions, the mycelium can fill the substrate in 4-5 months. When the temperature reaches 20-24°C, primordia form in the surface soil. At this time, the indoor relative air humidity should be maintained above 85%. After the mushroom balls emerge from the surface soil, the relative air humidity should be raised above 95%.

(2) Outdoor bed cultivation: choose a sheltered, shady site and dig beds 10-15 cm deep, 100 cm wide and of unlimited length. Leave 10 cm of loose soil at the bottom of the bed, first lay a layer of bamboo pieces or cut logs (dry bamboo pieces need to be washed and soaked for 8-12 hours, then air-dried to remove surface moisture), sow 1 layer of spawn on the bamboo pieces or cut logs, scatter 1 layer of dry bamboo leaves, and finally cover with 10 cm of fertile soil. If shading is insufficient, build a shade frame over the beds. Sprinkle water frequently to keep the surface soil moist. From inoculation to harvest takes 10-12 months.

In addition, there are also methods such as compressed-block cultivation with spawn and direct cultivation in plastic bags.

3. Management of Dictyophora

(1) Water management is the key to successful cultivation. During the mycelial growth stage, soil moisture should be maintained at 65-70%; too much or too little moisture is unfavorable. If the soil is too dry, spray with a fine mist, but do not allow water to accumulate on the soil surface.

(2) Management at each growth stage. During the primordium growth stage, the temperature is best controlled at 20-23°C, and the relative air humidity at 70-75%; during the fruiting body growth stage, the relative air humidity is raised to 90-95%, and water can be sprayed 3-4 times a day; open windows for ventilation 1-2 times a day, 30 minutes each time. (3) Management of outdoor bed cultivation. Strictly prevent trampling by people and livestock. During the mycelial growth process, do not dig in to check, so as not to break the mycelium. (4) Replenish soil in time. If buried cut logs are exposed above the soil surface, cover them with soil promptly.