Study on Granular Spawn

Abstract

Mushroom growing is a major agricultural industry in Taiwan that develops very rapidly because its growing period in winter months is the slack season of fawning, and there is no competition for land. Now, the mushroom has become one of the major agricultural export products. However, successful mushroom production requires refined cultural techniques. The method of spawn making is of primary importance. The commonly used grain and compost spawns have advantages and disadvantages. The compost spawn requires one month for a full growth of mycelium in bottles and casing at the stage 2-weeks after spawning is considered too long. In addition, an uneven growth after casing resulted. Grain spawn does not have the disadvantages of compost spawn, but the cost of spawn is high because wheat or rye is expensive in Taiwan, and the growth of mycelium is retarded by the increasing stickiness of starch after sterilization. It is also subject to damage by rats. In this report, a new form of granular spawn was developed without the disadvantages of both grain and compost spawns. Granular spawn is made of compost or its substitute with some other ingredients in granular form. This granular spawn has many advantages in addition to those of grain and compost spawns, such as shortening the cultivation period, reducing the incidence of diseases and pests.