Oyster mushroom production guide

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) is an edible mushroom having a cap, which resembles an oyster shell. Considered as vegetable, and it is now known that mushrooms presently rank above all vegetable and legumes (except soybean) in protein content and have significant levels of B and C vitamins, minerals, and are low in fat.

Grain spawn and preparation

The basic material in grain spawn is sorghum or any cereal seeds. Wash grains thoroughly and discard all floated seeds. Boil for at least 20-25 minutes. Collect seeds using strainer to drain the water and spread out on newspaper or Manila paper to absorb the excess water. Transfer the boiled grains in round bottle (e.g. catsup or Gatorade), plug with cotton waste, and cover with clean paper. Sterilize the bottled grains at 15 psi (per square inch) for one hour. Cool down. When cooled, pure culture stubs of chosen mushroom specie will be inoculated in the sterilized bottled grains. Incubate for 14 days. This serves as grain spawn. Use the grain spawn to inoculate sterilized fruiting bags.

Preparation of substrates and fruiting bags

Mixing and fermentation of substrate materials. Formulations is based on general recommendations. Combine rice bran (20%), sugar or molasses (1%), lime (1%), to sawdust (78%). Moisten and pile into heap (moisture content is about 60%). Cover with plastic sheets and turn evenly the heap materials every 2-3 days for 15-21 days. However, if old sawdust and stored under open space is to be used, fermentation is no longer needed.

Filling the bags. Use plastic bags of 6 x 12 inches polypropylene plastic (PP) bags size 0.2 or 0.3 mm. Fill 1 kg of fermented substrate materials in the PP bags and then compress. Then put PVC pipe neck (1 inch diameter), plug with cotton waste, cover with clean paper or plastic cap to minimize entry of water during steaming or pasteurization.

Pasteurization or steaming. Steam the bags in a pasteurizer like drum for 6-8 hours and cool down. Provide drums with cover that fits tightly on top. Provide racks to hold the bags inside the drum.

Another method is sterilizing the bags in an autoclave or pressure cooker for 1 and ½ hours at 15 psi.

Inoculating the bags. Inoculate each bag with the grain spawn in a clean and aseptic place. To inoculate, shake the grain spawn bottle to loosen the grains, remove the plug and flame the mouth of the bottle and pour some grains into the bags. Slightly shake the neck area of newly-inoculated bags to distribute evenly the grains in the shoulder area of the bags.

Incubation. Keep the spawned bags in a dry and ventilated room for at least 30-45 days. If within five days of incubation and no growth appears, the spawn is dead or the substrate is too dry. The bag could be contaminated with other microorganisms. Mycellium will fill the bags in 20-30 days, which means the bags are ready to fruit initiation. Open the bags 1-2 weeks after the bag is totally covered with mycelium. This is to make sure that the mycelium is matured enough to fruit. Inoculated bags could be pile and incubate directly in a growing house provided the house will remain dry to obtain the required incubation time.

Fruiting and its requirement. Fruiting requires a temperature not more than 28OC, ventilation, light, and relative humidity (80-85%). Provide moisture by watering the mushroom house daily. Do not water directly on bags’ opening. To lower the temperature and hasten fruiting, spray the house frequently if the temperature is more than 28O. Provide air ventilation at lower and upper part of walls but secured with insect net to prevent entry of insects. (Bureau of Plant Industry Crop Research and Production Support Division)

This appeared in Agriculture Monthly’s December 2018 issue.