Mushroom Lifecycle and Agricultural Applications

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Mushroom Lifecycle and Agricultural Applications
Crop, Compost, and Soil Health

• Cheetah Tchudi

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In nature, we see fungi as the primary
decomposers capable of decomposing lignin and
cellulose. Making use of products that other
organisms cannot
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In agriculture, the fruiting body- the mushroom
is used as food source and medicine
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To better envision utilization of saprophytic and
mycorrhizal fungi on a landscape scale, we must
first understand the basic anatomical
characteristics and stages of the fungal
lifespan.
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A more accurate term for a mushroom (when
describing both the fruiting and vegatative
portion) is mycelium. In the lifespan of a
fruiting fungus (termed basidiocarp), the
mushroom could be considered an articulation of
the mycelium.
THE LIFE CYCLE
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A fully developed mushroom produces spores from
its gills which are harbored on the underside of
the cap. Cells called basidia develop spores at
the tips of arm-like growths called sterigmata.
When mature, an air bubble between the spore and
sterigmata inflates and explodes, ejecting the
spores with tremendous force (a force equal to
25,000 gs).
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Every spore produced has only half the set of
chromosomes necessary to create a reproductive
individual (termed haploid). In this respect it
can be said that each spore has a sex and must
mate with a spore that has a respective set of
chromosomes. This done through primary mycelium
growth.
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Growth is initiated when environmental conditions
are wet enough. This can occur even after
prolonged durations of drought.Upon germination
a strand of mycelium emerges (termed hypha). When
hyphae of two spores with respective chromosomes
meet, a clamp connection occurs resulting in a
binucleate cell that has a full set of
chromosomes (dikaryotic). This launches into the
secondary mycelium growth in which all cells have
the full complement of chromosomes
(characteristically faster growth).
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The mycelium, chemotropically drawn to sources of
soluble nutrient, grows outward creating a hyphal
web. The network develops horizontally amassing
nutrients and matures by increasing the number of
nuclei per cell. This development of surplus
(nutrient and cellular material) in tandem with
environmental catalysts launches the mycelium
into the fruiting stage. growth of hyphae is
apical not as shown
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High rate of cellular division occurs as the
early mushroom emerges (termed primordia). As the
cap ascends the number of nuclei per cell
decreases from as many as ten to one or two. As
the mushroom grows the partial veil reveals the
gills and developing basidia, releasing spores as
the basidia mature. After all the spores have
been dispersed the mushroom melts back into the
ground becoming host to a suite of secondary
decomposers.
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• Mushrooms as a crop
• Can be grown on logs (plug spawn), woodchip
  substrates, manure composts, agricultural wastes,
  cardboard, hay bails
• Not only can the crop be sold, but the production
  byproduct, mushroom compost, can be sold or used
  for alternative agricultural production.
• Integration of fruiting mycorryhizal fungi (like
  truffles, chanterelles and matsutake) into a
  polyculture to increase yield while
  simultaneously acquiring additional crop.

• Mushrooms as a restoration tool
• Repopulation of woodlands
• Retention of soils in disturbances
• Bioremediation

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• Cultivation techniques
• Conventional multi staged technique permitting
  prolific development of fungi in sterilized
  substrates
• Plug cultures- log and seed
• Mined wild mushrooms
• Spore mass slurry
• Chainsaw inoculants?

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Fungi are the necessary link in developing
sustainable farm and industry practices, and a
highly overlooked facet of farming in a landscape
oriented, ecosystem based manner.
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