Establishing Natural Controls of Competitive Fungi in the Production of Shiitake Mushrooms

View the project final report

Commodities

• Miscellaneous: mushrooms

Practices

• Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research

Using the log cultured method in producing shiitake mushrooms, I have experienced that competitive fungi has been a major hindrance in establishing consent fruiting cycles and preserving the full use of a cultured log. Fungus infections have been one of the major causes of shiitake farm failures. Current training publications are more focused on the sawdust method and contamination prevention. Little information can be found on competitive fungi prevention for the cultured log method. The southern portion of the United States share common trees species, climates and fungi life cycles. By establishing sound documented methods of competitive fungi control, the production of shiitake mushrooms would become a more attractive alternative crop for southern small farmers. On my shiitake farm in the past five years most competitive fungi infections have occurred while the logs are in the resting or incubating stage of the fruiting cycle; attacking the outer portions of the log destroying the bark. Once the bark is destroyed the shiitake spawn dies. Current publications teach that the logs should be openly stacked or laid on the ground in a well shaded woodland environment. This method subjects the logs to competing fungi. All life cycles have necessary environmental parameters for life. Alternating these parameters to discourage unwanted fungi growth while yet preserving the necessary parameters for the shiitake spawn cycle would be a worthy and organic solution to the problem. I will create six out-door temporary resting stations. Each station would consist of an altered environment setting that would alter light, air flow, humidity and water. Fungus life cycles are depended on these factors. Removing or adjusting these environment settings would have an environmental effect on fungus growth. Three of these stations would be placed in a woodland environment and the other three would be placed in an open field environment. All stations will be kept separate from current farming operations allowing a comparing method of what would occur if no environmental changes were made. Station 1: The logs would be placed in a woodland environment. The logs would be singled stacked up-right on a rack with a closed-in plastic barrier and darkened with an overhead shade cloth. Station 2: The logs would be placed in a woodland environment. The logs would be multi-stacked up-right in a holding bin with a plastic barrier around the sides and darkened with an overhead shade cloth. Station 3: The logs would be placed in a woodland environment. The logs would be laid on the ground. Half of the logs would utilize ground cover matting underneath the logs and the other half would be placed directly on the ground. A shade cloth would be placed over all of them. Station 4: The logs would be placed in an open field environment. The logs would be singled stacked up-right on a rack with a closed-in plastic barrier and shaded with an overhead shade cloth. Station 5: The logs would be placed in an open field environment. The logs would be multi-stacked up-right in a holding bin with a closed-in plastic barrier and shaded with an overhead shade cloth. Station 6: The logs would be placed in an open field environment. The logs would be laid on the ground. Half of the logs would utilize ground cover matting underneath the logs and the other half would be placed directly on the ground. A shade cloth would be placed over all of them. Each station would consist of a hundred newly inoculated logs of the same tree species and spawn strain. I will continue to use the current recommendations in maintaining the cultured logs. The proposed altered environments would not affect the shiitake spawn. However the altered environments should have an effect on other fungi that feeds on the outer portions of the cultured log. By comparing the rate of infections, impact on fruiting of the mushrooms and harvested amounts of mushrooms of each station, I would be able to determine which method would be more practical and profitable for crop production or what other environmental controls should be installed.