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Tedkaz
Mr.make do


Registered: 04/23/12
Posts: 53
Last seen: 8 years, 17 days
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Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains.
#18396753 - 06/10/13 10:55 AM (10 years, 8 months ago) |
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Greetings!
I have done a few successful bulk grows, and i always grow on coir.
However, my last few bulk grows have succumbed to trichoderma, either before or during the first flush. I recognize the trichoderma mycelium and throw the project out before it sporulates.
The most immediate thought would be that the spawn is contaminated, as trichoderma mycelium is snow white and thus hard to spot. And because it stays relatively dormant until the substrate is put into fruiting conditions.
However, whenever i do g2g or spawn to bulk, i always leave an inch of spawn left in the jar and "case" it with half an inch of coir, as a control jar. No jar has contaminated with trichoderma (or anything else) so far. They always fruit. 
I live in a collective, with decent people, but sometimes they forget bread in the kitchen cupboard, and it gets colonized with trichoderma. I throw it away whenever i see it.
Is it possible that the trichoderma germinates on the colonized grain when i spawn it? I make sure the grain cannot dry out during bulk colonization.
Maybe i shake the jars to hard or something, making the grains more exposed and vulnerable to contamination?
I have tried:
- Upping the spawn ratio.
- I mostly pasteurize the coir, but i also tried boiling it to make it more digestible to the mycelium, as trichoderma supposedly cannot germinate on coir.
- Perfecting my sterile technique during spawn production.
None seem to work. Maybe i should try to spawn my trays outside or something?
Anny thoughts on my issue would be greatly appreciated!
Edited by Tedkaz (06/10/13 02:53 PM)
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Tedkaz
Mr.make do


Registered: 04/23/12
Posts: 53
Last seen: 8 years, 17 days
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Re: Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains. [Re: Tedkaz]
#18409789 - 06/12/13 05:57 PM (10 years, 8 months ago) |
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Lost av new tray to trich today! Please! Anyone?!
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 11 months, 22 days
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Re: Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains. [Re: Tedkaz]
#18409812 - 06/12/13 06:01 PM (10 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
I live in a collective, with decent people, but sometimes they forget bread in the kitchen cupboard, and it gets colonized with trichoderma. I throw it away whenever i see it.
That is most likely penicillium or some other mold. Trich comes from the soil, but the spores are in the air everywhere. It sounds like your spawn is indeed the problem even if small projects with the leftovers work out. A larger substrate gives more time for the mold to grow and sporulate. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Stywdtopatos
Pallet Hoarder

Registered: 04/28/13
Posts: 11
Loc: Sand
Last seen: 8 years, 9 months
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Re: Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains. [Re: Tedkaz]
#18409833 - 06/12/13 06:03 PM (10 years, 8 months ago) |
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I had problems similar to this, but with straw as substrate.
Using monotubs.
Noticed bottom wasnt colonizing, and that it was wet.
Colonized spawn sitting in water that was pooling on the bottom of substrate was most likely "drowning" and becoming open real estate for intruders.
I started drilling holes in my tub liners, and on bottom of my tubs.
No more problems.
Hope this helps!
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Tedkaz
Mr.make do


Registered: 04/23/12
Posts: 53
Last seen: 8 years, 17 days
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Re: Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains. [Re: Stywdtopatos]
#18410150 - 06/12/13 07:00 PM (10 years, 8 months ago) |
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Alright! Thanks RR, that makes a lot of sense 
I'll toss out my current jar cultures and start over with agar. And look even further into my sterile technique.
And, when i test my grains in the future, i will spawn them into a substrate large enough that i will know whether molds are present.
What a relief!
@Stywdtopatos, I always keep my bulk substrates a tad on the dry side to ensure faster colonization, and avoid the "drowning" you mentioned. Important point though, thanks for chiming in
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superfresh
Stranger

Registered: 08/20/13
Posts: 12
Last seen: 10 years, 1 month
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Re: Trichoderma germinating on already colonized spawn grains. [Re: Tedkaz]
#19022277 - 10/23/13 10:02 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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post picture how can you tell?
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