Currently, a huge number of species of various mushrooms is known - there are more than one hundred thousand. Although it is assumed that in reality there are much more - two and a half - three hundred thousand. Most of them grow on land. They are found everywhere where at least some life can exist.
Mycelium
A lot of spores form on the fruit bodies of the mushrooms . For example, in just one week, 16 billion of them ripen on champignon! When they mature, they begin to fall out of the fruiting body. The spores of the vast majority of fungi are carried by air currents over great distances. Their distribution is facilitated by animals, rodents, slugs, flies, larvae. This phenomenon is called zoohoria.
Once in certain conditions, the spores begin to sprout, hyphae develop, which grow very quickly in length and branch. Mycelium of fungi are formed. How to grow fruit body - read on. The mycelium permeates the substrate in all directions. Its threads develop rapidly, absorbing nutrients from the soil. Hyphae grow from different spores of mycelia. In some areas, they meet and connect. At this point, a dense node appears, from which the fruiting body develops. If the conditions are favorable, the mycelium grows continuously. When conditions worsen, it stiffens and stops growing.
Mycelium: production technology
In order to grow mycelium by yourself, you need to make a loop of wire or knitting needles. Then calcine it on a fire so that foreign microorganisms do not get into it. Then the mushroom breaks, a small piece is cut out with a loop (the upper part of the leg is used). The resulting sample is treated with hydrogen peroxide and placed in a test tube, having previously calcined its stopper. A container with a piece of mushroom is placed in a thermostat or in a dark place.
The mushroom picker develops a new environment in two weeks. After that, it can be used to propagate mycelium of fungi. How to grow the fruit body of champignons and porcini mushrooms from them? We will talk about this a little lower, but for now let's get back to our test tube. Uterine culture is stored at a temperature of 1-2 degrees. Every year it can be re-planted on new nutrient land. But if it is stored for too long and often replanted, its microbiological composition must be controlled.
Varieties
The fungal mycelium is formed by thin, colorless filaments, or hyphae, which are tubes with cytoplasm. For different mushrooms, the threads are intertwined in different ways, branch, grow together, form bundles and films. They have unlimited growth and lateral branching. The fungal mycelium is their vegetative body and, according to its functional purpose, is divided into two parts:
- Substrate mycelium - permeates the substrate. With its help, water with substances dissolved in it is absorbed and transported.
- Aerial, or superficial mycelium, rises above the substrate and forms the reproductive organs.
Structure
The mycelium is more difficult to detect than spores and the fruiting body, since it is completely immersed in the substrate. The fungal mycelium is formed by hyphae that develop from spores. The growth of the mycelium is apical, and it branches in all directions. Mycelium has a different growth rate and life expectancy, which depends on external conditions. As for the structure, the following types of the system under consideration are distinguished:
- Cellular mycelium - is divided into individual cells by septa. Each cell has one core or several.
- Non-cellular fungal mycelium - has no partitions and represents one huge cell, inside which there are many nuclei.
- The vegetative body of some fungi is budding or dividing cells. If they do not disperse, pseudomycelia may form. One can only guess why some fungi have a vegetative body of this type. Obviously, adaptation to certain growing conditions took place: sugary fluid in the form of juice of forest fruits or trees could get on the mycelium. This changed the structure of the mycelium.
For reference:
- The substrate is the soil whose substances the mushroom feeds on.
- Mycelium and mycelium are one and the same. They are represented by the underground web.
- The fruit body is a mushroom.
- Vegetative body - mycelium or mycelium.
Disputes and their growth
In order for spores to germinate in the substrate, it must be of a certain humidity, temperature and acidity. For different types of mushrooms, these indicators are different. When a spore enters a normal environment, it begins to sprout. An initial mycelium is formed. Its cells have one nucleus. Such fungal mycelium is not able to form fruiting bodies. This happens when a mononuclear cell combines with another nucleus, whose genetic structure is different. As a result of fusion, binuclear cells are obtained. They are already able to form a mycelium, which grows into the fruiting body.
Mushroom spores: structure
More often, fungi multiply by spores, due to which there is a rapid transition to another place and further reproduction. Part of the fungus is covered with a spore layer. Its structure is different:
- Lamellar - when spores form on the plates.
- Tubular - spores are located inside the tubules.
- Intrauterine - the reproductive structure is inside the fungus.
Disputes: how to get them yourself?
To propagate the fungus, spores are needed. It’s easy to get them. To do this, an overripe, non-wormy mushroom needs to be planted in the ground down with a hat to a depth of 5-10 cm. After 2-3 days, the hat is removed, and the spores will remain in the ground.
You can apply another way. To do this, the overripe and non-wormy mushroom hat needs to be chopped, then soak the slices in river water for two days and put in a dark place. The infused liquid must be poured into the garden, where it was planned to grow mushrooms. After 1-3 years, the mycelium will grow.
Champignon mycelium
These mushrooms are a valuable food product. They are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals. Champignons produce high yields and are a profitable crop for growing on a personal plot. They prefer shady places: under the crowns of trees and shrubs, in plantings of raspberries and strawberries, in the shade of farm buildings and fences. The main thing is that they should not be exposed to direct rays of the sun.
Before planting mushrooms, the soil must be well loosened. Weeds and roots of various herbs can not be removed if they do not interfere with other plants. In the prepared area, mycelium of champignons is sown . Mushrooms do not have to wait long. After 2-2.5 months, the mycelium begins to bear fruit. Prior to this period, no visible changes on the surface of the landing site could be detected. Sown mycelium on top is covered with a small layer of compost.
Fruiting begins in early spring and ends in late autumn. With the onset of cold weather, you can also plant mycelium of mushrooms. But the best periods for this are considered the beginning of September - the first decade of December, the end of February - mid-May.
Mushrooms should not be cut during harvesting; it is better to carefully unscrew them. Then the fruiting body will not remain in the ground and will not begin to rot, attracting insects. There is an opinion that mushrooms cannot be pulled out, because this can damage the mycelium. Not at all. Champignon belongs to the group of mold fungi; it does not have a root system. All disputes will remain in the ground and not perish. After you collect the mushrooms, they will grow again in two weeks.
For the period of winter colds, the plantation does not need to be insulated. Spores and mycelium of the fungus will easily tolerate even very low temperatures. At this time, growth stops, the debate is asleep. In the spring they awaken and give a plentiful harvest.
Every year in late autumn, when the fruiting period passes, it is recommended to scatter humus or humus on the mycelium. No chemical fertilizers! The mycelium lives for a long time, 8-10 years, increasing in size every year.
White mushroom mycelium
This mushroom can be planted indoors, but better - in the open ground. A site is selected next to or under the fruit trees. Then a hole 30 cm deep is dug. It is necessary to bring fallen leaves, forest land and peat into it. The fungus mycelium is placed in the hole along with the ground and moss. Sprinkled with leaves and spruce garbage brought from the forest. From above, the mycelium is covered with boards. This will maintain a certain humidity.
In dry weather, water the mycelium twice a week. In order to increase the likelihood of emergence into the water, microorganisms can be added. During the winter cold season, the site with mycelium should be covered with fallen leaves, straw, spruce branches or moss on top. With the onset of spring, the mulch is removed.
Mycelium chitin - what's the use?
The special healing properties of fungi are associated with the glucans and polysaccharides contained in them, including chitin. Let us dwell on them in more detail:
- The fungal mycelium is formed by chitin fibers, which have anti-cancer activity and wound healing ability.
- Dried mycelium is applied to burns. Wounds heal faster and do not fester.
- Of particular interest are chitin fibers - as an analogue of food.
- They are increasingly being used in medicine - they are used for preventive purposes.
- In agriculture, pre-sowing seed treatment is carried out with preparations that include chitin. After it, they give good germination.