MyCelia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

 Below you will find the answers to a number of questions we receive a lot.

How many kilos of mushroom spawn can be produced from one test tube with mother culture?

Depending on the set up of the spawn lab and the working hygiene: between 1000 and 50000 kg of inoculum.

How can mycelium be multiplied in a safe way?

Multiplying mycelium safely is very complicated, strict production and hygiene rules are essential. Depending on the scale of the production, the facility will have to obey to a set of hygiene rules. There is no set definition as to these rules for all sizes of spawn laboratories, but in general, the larger the production, the more hygienic it will need to be. If you need to set up a new production unit or review your production methods, it may be advisable to follow a training course. It will prove its worth many times over.

Which laboratory set up is required to produce mushroom spawn?

The production of spawn must be carried out in the most hygienic conditions, by highly trained personnel.  Assistance is required from a company with the necessary expertise.  Mycelia provides individual trainings in cleanroom technology and can also assist in the design and organisation of professional spawn laboratories. For more details, click here.

Can spawn be transported from Europe to other continents?

Provided that there are sufficient precautionary measures, yes.  Spawn is a living product and must be transported cool and quickly.  The transport costs can turn out high, and the danger of quality problems at arrival is not imaginary. You will find more instructions here.

How long can spawn be stored?

Spawn is a living product that needs to be handled with care. Details for storage : click here. 

Can you guarantee a certain yield and mushroom quality for the strains you ship?

Our technical data sheets (see strain information) are a compilation of data provided by customers from different regions. It is a general rule in mushroom cultivation that the results entirely depend on the way you treat the mycelium:

- type and treatment of substrate

- type of bag (gas exchange is extremely important for Shiitake!)

- quality of spawn at the time of inoculation

- inoculation rate

- situation (temperature in the first place) in the incubation/ maturation rooms

- climate control during fructification

- and a number of other factors also influence the yield and aspect of the mushrooms

As a result, it is impossible to "guarantee" yields or the efficiency of any form of substrate transformation.

Why use sterilized substrates for the successful production of wood- decaying mushrooms?

One can distinguish two groups of cultivable mushrooms:

1) Compost mushrooms, such as Agaricus bisporus, are cultivated on Agaricus compost, a selective substrate on which almost no other microorganisms can grow. If one uses impure spawn, yields may decrease, but one will still be able to pick mushrooms.

2) Lignicolous mushrooms, to which group belong most exotic mushroom species, are cultivated on wood-based substrates. For a number of species, the substrate has to be sterilized and subsequently inoculated under cleanroom-circumstances. For this kind of production method, the substrates should be 100% axenic, else everything fails. Other kinds of lignivorous mushrooms can be inoculated after pasteurization, but this requires larger amounts of spawn.

How much spawn shall I use?

1) Compost mushrooms : 0,35 % (Fresh Weight / Fresh Weight).

2) Lignicolous mushrooms :

            sterile production : 0,5 to 1 %

            non-sterile production : 2 – 6 %, depending on the strain: see strain information. 

What are the best bags to use for substrate and spawn production?

There are a number of qualities a good spawn bag needs to have.

• breathability: the bag needs to breathe without letting contaminants in
• durability: the bag needs to be sufficiently strong to survive manhandling
• heat-resistance: the bag needs to be sterilizable or pasteurizable, which puts limits to the construction material
• size: there needs to be enough space inside, without it being too large
• price: as most spawn bags are meant for single-use, the price should be as low as possible
• ecology: the bag should produce as little waste as possible

NOTE: There are many types of receptacles on the market, from bottles over containers and vessels to bags. There is no set rule as to which receptacle is best to use, although most professional spawn growers use bags.

Our sister company, SacO2, produces very high-quality spawn and substrate bags with a full fiter system, which are specifically designed for usage in the mushroom sector. These are the most uniformly breathable bags on the market, which gives them a serious advantage in terms of quality. Click here for the manual.

I only need a small quantity of spawn. Can I order this at your place?

Certainly, we also sell for hobby and educational purposes. Considering man hours and transport costs, it is more expensive than larger quantities, but it will most likely still be the best deal you will find anywhere.