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Offlineakb112211
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woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project
    #7661622 - 11/21/07 05:30 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

So, after collecting some cyans...
http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/7597489/an/0/page/0
I decided to embark on a project purely for mycological observation of course.
Some colonized wood chips were collected. As well as some colonized cardboard from cutting the bases of picked specimens.
They were placed in a small plastic container above moist potting soil. Leaves were placed on top to trap humidity. I have to mention, there are little critters running around in there too. Several tiny bugs, some woodlice and little slugs(I had to dispose of them because, if they eat mushrooms, whats to stop them from consuming mycelium).
For a substrate, I decided to use some additional soaked wood chips from an outdoor source.
I thought I would try to "modify" the few Woodlover teks by using a different substrate. I allowed the mycelium recover for about 2 days in a moist environment.
I then broke up some MDF board or medium density fiber board(otherwise known as hardboard). I allowed this to soak in water for a few hours. The pieces were fully soaked in quite a short time. These "chips" were placed in the plastic tub liberally on and around the already colonized hardwood chips.

^Thick, fuzzy, healthy looking mycelium peeking out.


So, observations...
-MDF takes up the mycelium faster than uncolonized wood chips.
-The mycelium also grows through the MDF as well as around it.
I believe this is due to the loose construction of the wood fibers of the MDF.
-MDF also holds water for quite a long time.
Also, I'm not quite sure what kind of wood is used to make MDF. It may even be a soft wood. MDF is quite fragrant.

Not related to the MDF...
I am experiencing constant contamination that I have to remove almost daily. As this stuff grows rapidly. Its a yellow slime with the smell of flour(maybe a bit like semen too?). It grows extremely rapidly. A central artery begins and the contam spreads out from it. I am not sure where it is originating from. I believe it could be from the other wood chips and forest debris that were collected(possible mistake in doing this). It is growing (almost exclusively) on the cardboard and leaves. I am systematically removing all of this debris.
It's only recently found its way on to some pieces of the MDF. The object in the middle is a piece of colonized cardboard that was cut out and placed in the mix(the underside was colonized)(the contam looks green because there was a blue label/sticker on the cardboard)

what is it?

Here are a couple photos of the tub.

^slow colonization^


^rapid colonization^
So, my project is this...Replicate outdoor seasonal conditions
Since the MDF is being consumed so rapidly, I would like to try and fruit the mycelium this year. So far, they have been in temps around 70-74degrees for about 10days. It has been placed between a window and curtain for a few days now(temperature is approx. 60-65degrees). The goal is to wait for the outdoor temperature to stay at a consistent 38-55degree range for several days. At this point the colonized wood chips will be placed outside and possibly fruit! If I must, I can wait until spring when temps are guaranteed to be in the correct range to fruit. At this point, the mycelium will have even more time to grow and take up nutrients. (The idea is to replicate the summer months indoors, then send the fungi outside to replicate autumn.
Is this wishful thinking?
Is it possible to replicate the outdoor environment? Do daylight hours have anything to do with fruiting?

Thanks for reading. Any suggestions or comments would be helpful.


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Invisibleimpeachme2
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Registered: 05/10/07
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: akb112211]
    #7661962 - 11/21/07 08:52 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

The contam looks like a fungus. Very nice job so far, I like your idea.


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Offlineakb112211
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: impeachme2]
    #7663865 - 11/21/07 04:57 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

thanks impeachme2. So, an invading fungus...does that spell much trouble? Will it be alright as long as I keep it at bay? little bugs ok too? I'd hate to have to remove/kill them.
I'll update when noticeable progress has been made...


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InvisibleWWorker
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Registered: 09/09/07
Posts: 395
Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: akb112211]
    #7663914 - 11/21/07 05:09 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

I work with MDF and MDF dust everyday.  I would not want that stuff near anything that I was going to eat...no matter how fats it colonized.

It contains several different glues/resins and who knows what type of wood and other dust....I just don't like it.

My .02 thats all.

Good luck. :smile:


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Offlineakb112211
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: WWorker]
    #7665584 - 11/22/07 02:28 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

hmmmmm........
good point. Didn't think about it in that way. MDF, "not fit for human consumption..."
But fruiting bodies..the chemicals they contain are the chemicals the fungi produces(inherently).
I know that fungi by a busy road are to be avoided, but is that entirely because of the substrate? Or is that because of things in the air landing on the mushrooms that get imbedded? Combination of the two I suppose.
I'm gonna research the composition of MDF. But it works so well! The mycelium colonizes it so fast.
Thanks for the thought!


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Offlineakb112211
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: akb112211]
    #7665648 - 11/22/07 03:07 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

It appears that MDF is composed of softwood, wax, and resin. The controversial part is the fact that the resin is derived from formaldehyde.
According to good old Wikipedia...
"Occupational exposure to formaldehyde by inhalation is mainly from three types of sources: thermal or chemical decomposition of formaldehyde-based resins, formaldehyde emission from aqueous solutions (for example, embalming fluids), or the production of formaldehyde resulting from the combustion of a variety of organic compounds (for example, exhaust gases). Formaldehyde can be toxic, allergenic, and carcinogenic."

It also said...
"If inhaled, formaldehyde at this concentration may cause headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, and difficulty breathing, as well as triggering or aggravating asthma symptoms.[8] Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and as having sufficient evidence that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer."

You said...
"I work with MDF and MDF dust everyday. I would not want that stuff near anything that I was going to eat...no matter how fats it colonized."

I'm not gonna be too concerned about eating a few mushrooms grown off of it(at the moment). Ironically, I'm actually more worried about your health to be honest. Repeated, daily exposure to a known carcinogen is the most hazardous!

Now, chemical decomposition is one thing that could raise concern. I have not found any scientific papers concerning fungal decomposition of formaldehyde. One does refer to thermal decomposition.(www.JSTOR.org)
Heating/Baking the MDF could decompose the formaldehyde(into what constituents? I don't know). Thus rendering it safe and effective to use as a substrate for woodloving fungi.


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Invisibleorchidfanatic
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: akb112211]
    #7665763 - 11/22/07 05:40 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Stamets has a working theory that mushrooms can clean the environment
of toxic contamination by uptaking it into their fruit bodies from the mycelium
If this is true .(I think it is Staments seems to know his shit)
that would mean bad news for your fruit bodies .. I know heat can break down formaldehyde but alot of it is still locked into the material by resin . you may not be able to force this breakdown with heat but I bet the mycelium can get to it .. I would continue your experiement but
dont comsume anything from them .. next time use strictly hardwood alder or oak chips and sawdust. a shiitake recipe in substrate bags works well for woodlovers.
good luck


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OfflineRogerRabbitM
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: orchidfanatic]
    #7666145 - 11/22/07 08:42 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Stamets has a working theory that mushrooms can clean the environment
of toxic contamination by uptaking it into their fruit bodies from the mycelium




Not quite. Mycelium cleans up toxins by metabolizing them. Other than heavy metals, toxins in the substrate are not conducted into the fruit bodies. Stamet's example of the diesel oil spill in Washington State that was cleaned up with oyster mycelium, yielded non-fuel contaminated mushrooms.

I've grown on plywood and particle board several times with good results. The mycelium rips between the sheets, gobbling up the glue first, and then goes to work on the wood.
RR


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OfflineNibin
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: RogerRabbit]
    #7666193 - 11/22/07 08:54 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Toxins that are complex molecules will be broken down by the mycelium's enzymes. The problem with heavy metals is that they are already single atoms of the given metal and can't be broken down. The fruit will absorb them and repeated ingestion can result in heavy metal toxicity.

This is the same as why it is not recommended that we eat fresh tuna every day as even though the amount of mercury the fish contains is low, it can build up over time. This is, at least as I was always told, why we don't eat mushrooms that grow next to roads because of the heavy metals in (what used to be leaded) fuel and asfalt. I'm pretty sure that the formaldehyde will be broken down as it is an organic molecule, and our own bodies even produce it (and break it down to formic acid)


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Offlineakb112211
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Re: woodlover(ps. cyanescen) project [Re: RogerRabbit]
    #7669146 - 11/23/07 03:56 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

RR, how well colonized do you allow the substrate to be before introducing a low temp for fruiting?
It has reached the point where I have ceased to be able to lift bits of MDF to check for contaminants. When I attempt to raise pieces, it appears that most are lightly fastened to each other. (I feel that they should be left as they are.)
Am I correct to assume that each local network of mycelium must reach one another in order to "mate" to initiate the fruiting process?
I believe the colonization is still at the stage where there are mainly individual networks of mycelium. I imagine that some have reached each other, but I can not see whats going on under the chips of MDF.
Also, there are only a few spots(that I can see) where the mycelium is fluffy and not just branches of rhizomorphs(?) reaching out to multiple areas.
Thanks, get back to me whenever you can. I imagine its better to wait as long as possible anyway.
As for the formaldehyde resin...I guess the consensus is that it shouldn't pose a health risk. As it will be broken down by the mycelium.

Thanks to all for your responses.


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Nor is there now,
The wholly criticized
Or the wholly approved"


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