Quote:

Formation of basidiocarp initials in Psilocybe cubensis occurred only when cultures were illuminated.

Short durations of light (0.0025 sec of xenon-arc flash) were sufficient for initiation. Light-induced initiation was saturated at a dose of 0.345 × 104 ergs/cm2 at 460 nm. UV and blue wavelengths of 370, 440, and 460 nm were the most effective. Green and red wavelengths greater than 510 nm were ineffective.

---

Fast forward to 2019 and I have 3 monos and around 12 shoeboxes, spawned aorund end of December and most fully colonised. But pinning has been slow to happen..and so I remembered the previous time and once again exposed the mycelium to multiple xenon flashes from the DSLR..

24 hours or so later a number of the tubs now have knots forming, which were definitely not there 24 hours before.

Now that's not to prove causal, but it's quite suggestive, and backed up by the scientific study..So I'm wondering if other people can try this and report results.

All you need is a couple of fully colonised tubs that aren't showing knots, and a DSLR that you can used fire at the mycelium with the lid off for 4-5 shots in quick succession, maybe repeat over 2-3 days and preferably with a control tub that you don't expose, then monitor..It'll be interesting if nothing else

Shroomspective said:

All you need is a couple of fully colonised tubs that aren't showing knots

---

they will form knots any day since they are fully colonized

not to judge a book by its cover but a mushroom reference published in 1980?

Quote:

Fruiting body formation of mushrooms is closely involved with "light", which seriously affects their productivities in both quality and quantity. Primordium formation in several cultivable mushrooms requires light and seldom occurs under continuous darkness. Light also induces the development of fruiting bodies including stipe elongation and cap formation

The exposure to continuous light by blue LED during vegetatively growing mycelial stage in L. edodes brought higher productivity and quantity of fruiting bodies than using usual white fluorescent lamps

The characteristic fruiting bodies of P. nameko and P. eryngii were efficiently obtained by the irradiation with blue LED during fruiting body formation, and high intensity at the primordial stage in G. frondosa caused high productivity of fruiting bodies, which were derived from highly induced primordia.

---

Quote:

The effects of light wavelengths and coherence on basidiospore germination of Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinus edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus have been studied. Short-term low-intensity irradiation by coherent (laser) light wavelength 488.0 nm and 632.8 nm at doses 45 and 230 mJ/cm2 has significantly increased the number of germinated basidiospores

Analysis of the obtained data gives serious grounds for further research aimed at studying the duration of preservation of the photo induced basidiospores activity and its transfer to other stages of morphogenesis.

---

I'm just saying the science suggests it makes a difference, so why not give it a try

Quote:

The effects of light wavelengths and coherence on basidiospore germination of Agaricus bisporus, Flammulina velutipes, Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Hericium erinaceus, Lentinus edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus have been studied. Short-term low-intensity irradiation by coherent (laser) light wavelength 488.0 nm and 632.8 nm at doses 45 and 230 mJ/cm2 has significantly increased the number of germinated basidiospores

Analysis of the obtained data gives serious grounds for further research aimed at studying the duration of preservation of the photo induced basidiospores activity and its transfer to other stages of morphogenesis.

---

Shroomspective said:

I do get that..and that's not quite where I'm going with this

"Short durations of light (0.0025 sec of xenon-arc flash) were sufficient for initiation"

The key thing was can you, if you have fully colonised mycelium that isn't pining yet, jump start it by exposing it to high intensity light like they did in the study..I'm not saying they wouldn't pin, or that 6500k light hasn't been found to be ideal, that's what I use for growing too, just is this a tool that can help..And my limited test so far suggests it does something at least

---

denger said:

I am amazed at all the negativity here. There were a ton of great discoveries in 1980's that we use today, just check out this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980s_in_science_and_technology

That aside, there are a lot of things that were discovered and not pursued, that happens on a regular basis. Ranging from making dense white glass in 1600's all the way to psychedelic-assisted therapy in 1960's (which is enjoying a somewhat of a revival just now in closed scientific settings).

Shroomspective asked a valid question, and he has two good reasons for it: prior research and his own experience, and he asked for help to verify his hunch. What's wrong with you, people? Next time you ask for help and everyone stomps on you, how would you feel?

I personally never had issues with pinset for the species most discussed on this board, so I am not sure what I can do to help at the moment. However, some species of edibles I work with do have trouble initiating pinset, particularly some strains of Enoki (yes, strains, because they are clean, genetically stable, mono-cultures that are only propagated vegetatively). I would be happy to experiment with them when the opportunity arises, but I am not sure if this would apply to cubes with any validity.

---

bodhisatta said:

This isn't the 4th grade dude. This is where adults come to talk about drugs.If you come here with some 1980s bs be prepared to sell it better than hey I read only the abstract of some shit study. Demanding critical thinking and results isn't negative but to the people who can do neither.

---

Quote:

The way it applies here is if you feel the arguments and suggestions presented by the OP are insufficient, you could say "I am very skeptical of the original research, but if you want to verify it you would need to design a bullet-proof test and collect some solid statistics". This would be demanding critical thinking and results in adult way.

---