Tiger Mushroom is an edible mushroom (must be boiled for 20-30 minutes before consumption, discard the broth). Tiger Mushroom has a unique chemical composition: contains lentinan polysaccharide, which has the property of strengthening the immune system by increasing the production of T-lymphocytes, as well as contains substances that inhibit the growth of bacteria and microbes.
Cap: 8-12 cm in diameter, funnel-shaped, with rolled edges, white, covered with brown or nearly black scales. Gills: narrow, descending along the stem, whitish or cream-colored. Stem: up to 8 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter, firm, dirty-white, dark-brown at the base. Flesh: white, firm, slightly reddening when broken, odorless.
Cultivation of mushrooms on plant residues (intensive method):
Substrate: straw or sunflower hulls are used as substrate. Straw and hulls must be of good quality, free from signs of decay and mold. Before processing, straw should be chopped; for home use, chopping to 3-7 cm is sufficient. Chopping makes straw more compact and accessible to the mycelium's enzymes.
Substrate preparation. For home conditions, simple pasteurization methods can be used, such as boiling water. The substrate is poured with water at 80-90°C and held for 3-4 hours for hulls or 7-8 hours for straw. Then water is drained, and the substrate (straw or hulls) must cool to 20-30°C.
Before inoculation and packaging, approximate substrate moisture is determined: if squeezed in hand, water droplets should appear between fingers, indicating optimal moisture content of 70%. If overwatered, water will drip in streams.
Forming substrate blocks. Then, the cooled and squeezed substrate is mixed with mycelium. The prepared compost is placed into a transparent polyethylene bag, tied, and several 3-5 cm cuts are made for air exchange across the bag surface. A ready mushroom block is formed.
Fruiting: Mycelium germination lasts 15-18 days at 14-28°C. During fruiting, natural and active ventilation is used. Substrate blocks should be illuminated only during fruiting; in open areas and rooms with windows, a day-night cycle is considered normal. In areas where fruiting bodies have emerged, carefully make cuts in the film.
Fruiting occurs in waves over 2-3 weeks, with 5-7 days between waves. The first three waves yield the highest harvest. Yield is 35-40% of substrate weight. Dosage: 2% mycelium per total mass of moist, steamed substrate.
