Mushroom labs almost invariably opt for heat-based sterilization. There is an array of laboratory sterilization options, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Heat-based Substrate Sterilization for Mushroom Cultivationīut not all sterilization methods are created equal. Supplemented substrates-and even plain straw substrate, in some applications-need to be fully sterilized. They harbor mold spores that easily survive pasteurization, and will take over the substrate long before most mushrooms have a chance to gain a foothold. But supplemented substrates (and especially denser ones, like hardwood sawdust) cannot be prepared using pasteurization. Provided you’re working non-supplemented straw substrate, it’s both effective and forgiving. Pasteurization is favored by many edible mushroom growers, because it scales easily and demands no specialized equipment. Sterilization, on the other hand, aims at complete destruction of all microorganisms and their spores. Pasteurization does not actually remove/kill/deactivate all forms of life present in the substrate (e.g., fungi, bacteria, viruses, spores, unicellular eukaryotic organisms, and so on). pasteurization (e.g., “traditional” heat-based pasteurization, or “cold pasteurization” methods like lime bath, peroxide bath, or cold-water fermentation)Īn important distinction here is that pasteurization seeks only to weaken microorganisms and kill pathogenic bacteria present in the substrate.true sterilization (e.g., steam autoclaving).These tend to break into two broad categories: You have many options when preparing your mushroom substrate. Options for Mushroom Substrate Preparation: Pasteurization vs. Having a self-contained, programmable, research-grade laboratory autoclave makes it significantly easier to develop such a procedure. In order to meet these challenges, it’s extremely important to establish a validated, consistently reproducible mushroom substrate preparation procedure. That said, every bulk substrate will arrive with its own natural load of competing organisms and dormant spores that you need to reliably reduce or eliminate, lest they crowd out your mushrooms. So, whether it’s for research or cultivation, properly preparing your fungus substrate is a vital first step.īut there are so many complicating factors: Different substrates (and even different batches of the same substrate) have different compositions, densities, microbial loads, nutrient concentrations, chemical profiles, etc. Almost invariably, that contamination comes from improper preparation of bulk substrate prior to inoculating it with mushroom culture. Contamination is the most common source of failure in any mushroom lab.

Mushroom incubator dry heat vs