I am trying to grow Trametes versicolor to study their degradation capability as a part of my thesis. I am new to growing mushrooms and even though i have read quite a lot on growing this variety, i have had no success so far. It all goes fine till the substrate is inoculated and the mycelia takes over the complete block. But once its moved to the fruiting conditions- I used the Shotgun Fruiting Chamber method, the bulbs formed kind of shrivel and the fruiting bodies don't appear at all. The fruiting block suddenly now has black/brown patch at the middle section. It has almost been 30 days in this chamber now. I fan and mist them regularly. For the last two week, the temperature here in Hamburg, Germany has been between 30/35°C(86-95°F) which is quite high for this area, and am not sure if this is the factor that's causing the fruiting block to dry or causing those dark patches.
Could someone please tell me what am i doing wrong? Any advise would be highly appreciated.
Hi Arpitha and welcome to permies! I see the greatest visible growth and activity in turkey tails during the cooler parts of the year here. They are active in our mild winters, not really affected by light frost, and every time it rains they increase their size. So, I would not be surprised if the heat wave is affecting your culture.
ive had turkey tails show the most growth and spread through the winter. but last year nothing, very little to none wild mushroom growth here last year, it might be climate change, I'm not sure but it sure was unexpected as the year before last I had turkey tails all over the forest two winters ago.
Thank you guys.. Maybe i will just wait for the temperature to drop a bit and start a fresh batch..
Would any of you have an idea on the favorable conditions for growing honey fungus(Armillaria mellea)??
Phil Stevens
master pollinator
Posts: 2088
Location: Ashhurst New Zealand (Cfb - oceanic temperate)
I think Armillaria in this region tends to fruit in the warmer parts of the year, but I would not be surprised if the mycelium is active year round. It gives pine plantation growers headaches here because it kills off young vigorous trees.
Just out of curiosity, what specific degradation effects are you studying? I've got Trametes spawn multiplying right now to help remediate some wood chips I got that have traces of aminopyralid contamination.
Trametes versicolor takes time to grow (at least 2 months and a half) and when it starts to pop takes time for the fruitbodies to form and develop. I think your temp is too high. in that condition the mycelium might fall into a dormant stage
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