The water requirement of the mushroom crop

Experiments are described in which it was attempted to quantify the water requirement of the mushroom crop for maximum yield.The amount of water applied was positively correlated with crop weight from about the second week of cropping and increasing the amount of water applied reduced the drying of the compost and casing during cropping. The watering treatments affected the character of the mushroom mycelium developing in the casing layer.The amount of water required to maintain the percentage water content of compost and casing unchanged throughout cropping can be calculated from an equation representing the overall balance of water applied to, and lost from, the mushroom trays.     

Response of the Cultivated Mushroom to Temperature at Various Stages of Crop Growth

The effect of temperature during the incubation stage of spawn manufacture and during the spawn-running, pre-cropping and cropping stages of crop production on the growth and yield of the cultivated mushroom was studied in controlled environment cabinets.

Temperature treatment during spawn manufacture and spawn-running affected the growth of mycelium during the spawn-running and pre-cropping stages, but had no effect on the number and weight of sporo-phores produced. Mycelium grew best during spawn-running when the temperature was kept at 75° F. (23·9° C.)

During pre-cropping a temperature of 65° F. (18·3° C.) resulted in less mycelial growth on the surface of the casing layer, an earlier start to cropping, a greater number and weight of sporophores and a lower average weight per sporophore than one of 75° F.

There was no difference in weight of crop when the cropping temperatures were 57° or 62° F. (13·9° or 16·7° C.) but 67° F. (1·5° C.) resulted in a reduced yield when compared with 62° F. The number of sporophores tended to increase as the cropping temperature was decreased. More sporophores were produced at 57° F. than at 62° F., and more were produced at 62° F. than at 67° F. Average weight per sporophore was lower at 57° F. than at 62° F. and was usually lower at 62° F. than at 67° F.

There were no significant interactions between the effects of temperature treatments applied at any of the stages on yield, but the temperature maintained during one stage influenced the development of the crop in up to two subsequent stages.     

覆土对双孢蘑菇菌丝产量的影响

在双孢蘑菇（Agaricus bisporus）栽培中,以传统蘑菇砻糠田泥覆土为对照,研究了不同泥炭比例覆土配方的理化性状、细菌生长量、双孢蘑菇菌丝生物量及其产量。理化性状分析结果表明,不同泥炭比例覆土的空隙度、持水率,以及在-2.16 ~ -17.28 kPa水柱牵力下的水份释放量,都随着覆土中泥炭含量的增大而增大。磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)分析结果表明,100%、50%和30%泥炭覆土中的菌丝生物量均显著高于传统砻糠田泥覆土(P<0.05),并随着泥炭比例的增大而增高;覆土中的菌丝生物量均于第2潮菇原基形成期达最大值。覆土中的细菌数量随着双孢蘑菇菌丝的生长而增多,不同覆土的细菌数量与其中的蘑菇菌丝生物量正相关,覆土中的细菌与蘑菇菌丝存在营养共生关系。栽培试验结果表明,蘑菇子实体形成量与覆土中的菌丝生物量密切正相关,与覆土持水率（含水量）正相关;覆土层蘑菇菌丝生物量和持水率,是蘑菇覆土基质优化的重要技术指标。     

Relation between the initial nitrogen content of mushroom compost and the duration of composting

With a 3-day duration of Stage I of composting, an initial nitrogen (N) content of about 1.4% of the dry matter resulted in a shorter time in Stage II and a 14-day earlier start to cropping than a 2.4% N content. In 6 weeks cropping from each compost, the yields of mushrooms were similar.Following 13 and 23 days in Stage I, initial N content had little or no effect on the duration of Stage II or on the start of cropping, but the yield of mushrooms was greater from composts with the higher N content. These results support the proposition that with increasing duration of composting a higher initial N content of the compost is acceptable, and probably desirable, for preparing a successful compost.A direct relation between duration of composting and losses of water and dry matter from the compost was confirmed.The occurrence of Coprinus spp. (ink caps) fruit bodies during mushroom cropping was not a good indication of subsequent yield of mushrooms.     

Effects of competition on the development of mycelium,mycelial aggregates and sporophores of Agaricus bisporus

Evidence of competition for nutrients between mushroom mycelium in different parts of the same bed is given.Casing each half of containers of spawn-run compost at different times resulted in the earlier-cased portion being more strongly colonised by the mushroom, and with more mycelial aggregates and sporophores than the other half. The dominance of the mycelium in half of the casing over that in the other was evident even when there was only 2 days difference between casing the halves, at which time the mycelium in the earlier-cased portion had colonised only 2–4 mm of the casing-layer. A difference of 4–6 days in the time of casing halves of the same container resulted in the almost complete loss of at least the first flush of sporophores from the later-cased half.Despite considerable differences in yield of sporophores between halves of the same container, the total weight of sporophores was often unaffected and never reduced by more than 20%.The general pattern of the results was hardly affected by temperature within the range 10–24°C.     

Response of the cultivated mushroom to temperature during the two-week period after casing

The effect of air temperature during the two-week period after casing on the growth and yield of the cultivated mushroom was studied in controlled environment cabinets.

Temperature treatment during the first and second weeks after casing had significant effects on the start of cropping and yield of sporophores, which were generally, but not always, the same for each week of treatment. In some experiments yield was markedly affected by the temperature at a time when the first sporophores were extremely small or not even initiated.

There was no evidence of interaction between the temperature treatments up to two weeks after casing and cropping temperatures. Interaction between temperature treatments in the first and second weeks after casing occurred in only one out of four experiments.

There was no consistent evidence of interaction between the temperature treatment in the two weeks after casing and the ventilation rate or the source from which the spawn was obtained.

The optimum temperature range during the two weeks after casing for an early start to cropping and highest yield of sporophores was found to be about 60–65 °F. (15–18 °C.). Average weight per sporophore was usually lower with decreasing temperature during the two weeks after casing.     

Influence of the water potential of the casing soil on crop yield and on dry-matter content,osmotic potential and mannitol content of the fruit bodies of Agaricus bisporus

In the culture of the mushroom, Agaricus bisporus, significant amounts of water are taken up from the casing soil. The water potential of the casing soil was lowered by adding sodium chloride. A lowering of the water potential reduced crop yield, slowed fruit-body development and increased the dry-matter content of sporophores as a percentage of wet weight. Values for dry-matter content of the fruit bodies ranged from 6.7 to 11.5%. Regulation of dry-matter content is therefore possible by adjusting the concentration of salt in the casing soil. The total dry weight of all harvested fruit bodies of the first two flushes (breaks) from cultures with a low water potential in the casing soil (high salt) was as high as that of the crop of cultures with a high water potential (no salt added). The total concentration of osmotically active substances in the pressed juice of caps of fruit bodies increased with decreasing water potential of the casing soil. The increase in mannitol concentration of the press juice contributed significantly to this increase. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of osmotically active substances in the pressed juice and the increase in dry-water content of fruit bodies. Mechanisms of water uptake and movement from the casing soil to the growing fruit bodies are discussed.     

The Effects of Light Intensity,Day Temperature and Water Supply on the Fruit-Ripening Disorders and Yield of two Varieties of Tomato

A study was made of the effects on fruit-ripening disorders and crop yield of shaded and unshaded glasshouses maintained at both high and low daytime temperatures (80° F. (26 ? 5° C.) and 65° F. (18 ? 3° C.)), in which were grown two varieties of tomatoes (Potentate and Ware Cross) at two levels of watering.

Shading the glasshouses reduced the proportion of non-uniformly coloured fruit at the high temperature. At the low temperature, shading reduced the proportion in i960 but there was no effect in 1959. Light watering reduced the proportion of non-uniformly coloured fruit in the first year but it had little effect in the second year. The variety Ware Cross bore approximately 10% fewer non-uniformly coloured fruit than did Potentate in both years.

Shading the glasshouses reduced yield in both years, the decrease being greater (62%) in the very dull year of i960 than it was (40%) in the very sunny year of 1959. The house at the low day temperature yielded a 30% greater weight of crop than the warmer house. In both years the heavily watered plants yielded more than the lightly watered plants because of an increase in mean fruit size. Potentate and Ware Cross yielded similar weights of crop in both years but Ware Cross bore more fruits and had a smaller mean fruit size.

The gross cash return obtained in 1960 was reduced by shading the glasshouses, by maintaining a high day temperature and by growing the variety Potentate as opposed to Ware Cross. The differences in the watering regimes employed had little effect on the cash return obtained.

By assuming that yield and quality have simple mathematical relations with degree of shading, the profitability of shading is discussed. It is shown that shading is not likely to be profitable.     

The manipulation of temperature to synchronise flushing patterns in two strains of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus

The majority of mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) strains are grown commercially at approximately 16°C throughout the cropping period and show a distinct flushing pattern, with the picking period of each flush lasting several days. Experiments were done to determine whether the picking periods could be reduced by improved synchronisation of growth within flushes by raising the air temperature by several degrees at defined stages of sporophore development (cap diameters of 1, 2 or 3 cm) until the harvest of mature fruitbodies. Two strains of A. bisporus were used, D649 a smooth white strain and D676 an off-white type. High-quality mushrooms of similar size and maturity were harvested from all three treatments in fewer picking days than when grown continuously at 16°C. The highest degree of synchronisation was achieved with both strains when exposed to elevated temperatures at the 1-cm stage with no significant effect on total yield.     

Cropping of mushrooms on shallow layers of compost

An inverse relation between quantity of compost per unit bed area and yield of mushrooms per unit weight has been found for mushrooms grown on layers of compost 2.5–12.5 cm deep. The average increase in yield per 1 000 kg of compost was 8.3 kg of mushrooms for each centimeter reduction in depth. The feasibility of a mushroom cropping system based on thin layers has been examined and several factors likely to be important in its development have been identified.     

废弃葡萄枝条作香菇培养配料试验

以废弃葡萄冬剪枝条为主料设置不同培养料配方栽培香菇,观察、记录、分析不同培养料对香菇菌丝生长及子实体形态、产量的影响。试验结果表明,用废弃葡萄枝栽培香菇是可行的,其中以配方葡萄枝40%、杂木屑38%、麦麸20%、石膏1%、糖1%为最好,香菇菌丝发菌快,子实体个体大,产量高,生物效率高。     

Effect of the duration of composting on the amount of compost produced and the yield of mushrooms

Prolonging duration of composting, especially of Stage II (peak-heating), increased loss of material, reduced bulk density and resulted in a lower weight of compost prepared per tonne of original straw,Yield of mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) per tonne of prepared compost was unaffected by prolonging Stage II, but was reduced when expressed per unit area, per tonne of compost filled, or per tonne of original straw, because of loss of materials and reduced bulk density.Fruit bodies of a weed mould, Coprinus sp., were more numerous during mushroom cropping on composts which had been prepared with the shortest Stage II, but there was no correlation between occurrence of Coprinus sp. and the yield of mushrooms per tonne of prepared compost.A basis is proposed for comparing composts prepared by a wide variety of methods.     

Effect of spawn strain and available substrate on the relative yield of mushrooms in successive flushes

The relative yield of mushrooms in successive flushes is affected by the strain of spawn used, but this feature is not sufficiently consistent to be relied upon.Restricting the substrate available to developing mushrooms by separating off part of the mushroom-colonised compost with plastic sheet until about 21 days after casing reduced early yield and increased the harvest from later flushes; total yield over 6–7 weeks was unaffected. Attempts to achieve a temporary separation of parts of the colonised compost using bio-degradable barriers were unsuccessful.     

水分调控对核桃叶片结构和产量的影响

 测定了沟坡梯田核桃园采用不同水分调控措施后, 核桃叶片结构指标和单株产量。结果表明,灌水225 kg/ 株、灌水150 kg/ 株、覆膜、覆草处理对核桃叶片结构影响显著, 灌水225 kg/ 株处理使核桃增产43. 1 % , 中度修剪和覆草处理增产29 %以上。     

The use of chlorothalonil for the control of benzimidazole tolerant strains of Verticillium fungicola (Preuss) Hassebr. on the cultivated mushroom

Chlorothalonil (as Daconil 2787, 75 % a.i., w.p.), applied as a drench, reduced the incidence on mushrooms of Verticillium fungicola which was tolerant to certain benzimidazole fungicides. Compared with zineb, chlorothalonil gave better disease control, required only one application and did not stain sporophores. Incorporation of chlorothalonil into the casing layer caused toxicity to the crop and depressed the yield. Where tolerance was not a problem, benomyl gave better disease control than chlorothalonil.     

胡麻秸秆栽培香菇配方筛选试验

以胡麻秸秆为主要基质与阔叶木屑配制成不同的组合,进行栽培香菇配方筛选试验.结果表明:不同的配方香菇均能生长,但香菇的产量和长势有明显的差异,其中以配方④(胡麻秸秆20％、阔叶木屑60％、麦麸12％、玉米面6％、石膏1.5％、过磷酸钙0.5％)香菇菌丝的生长良好,鲜菇产量及质量均高于对照,生物转化率达97.6％.     

Effects of watering on the yield,quality and composition of tomatoes grown in bags of peat

Two crops of tomatoes, grown in bags of peat, were supplied with 60,80,100 and 120% of the water requirement estimated from solar radiation integrals for 12 weeks after planting. Restricting water to 60% and 80% of the requirement controlled vegetative vigour but reduced final yield by about 20% and 4% respectively. These decreases were mainly because of a reduction in fruit size rather than number. Overwatering had little effect on yield but caused Mn deficiency. As restricted watering reduced the water content of the fruit, so.the dry matter, sugar, acid and potassium concentrations in the fresh material increased; this was particularly marked in plots receiving only 60% of the water requirement. The response to the treatments disappeared 4-5 weeks after they were discontinued. Retention of six extra leaves in one crop had no effect on yield. The data suggest that watering should be restricted to 80% or less of the estimated requirement in order to achieve a significant improvement in the flavour components of the fruit.     

不同覆土材料对双孢蘑菇菌丝爬土的影响

以双孢菇、草炭、河泥等为试材,研究了不同覆土材料对双孢菇菌丝爬土时间和产量的影响.结果表明:配方A草炭+田土复合或者配方B纯草炭有利于双孢菇菌丝的爬土,且菇产量高;配方C河泥砻糠+10％缓缓释剂、配方F常规砻糠河泥,不仅菌丝生长慢,产量低,而且会因河道污染严重,河泥中积聚的病、虫源和重金属等有害物质直接影响双孢蘑菇的质量.     

玉米芯生料栽培平菇菌株筛选研究

利用半地下式塑料菇棚,进行了平菇菌株品比、接种后处理方法和栽培方式三因素的试验.结果表明:23个平菇菌株的发菌期存在显差差异,扎孔处理的显著加快菌丝生长速度,缩短发苗期,并减少杂菌污染;菌株间子实体产量差异显著。覆土栽培倡显著提高于实体产量.通过试验筛选出了适合玉米芯栽培的高产优质平菇菌株菜平1号、莱平4号、8903和pI802.     

不同覆土处理对双孢蘑菇产量和品质的影响

分析了泥炭与田泥分别以1：3、1：1、3：1的比例混合,以及纯泥炭作为覆土材料,并以常用的田泥稻壳土的覆土材料作为对照,研究了不同覆土的理化性质对双孢蘑菇产量和品质的影响。结果表明泥炭的持水率高、孔隙度大、电导率高、容重轻、含氮量高,这些特性有利于双孢蘑菇的生长,因此纯泥炭作为覆土时产量最高,随着添加田泥比例的升高,容重升高,其他参数降低,双孢蘑菇的产量有所降低,泥炭和田泥以1：1的比例混合时产量和对照没有显著差异,且在双孢蘑菇的品质方面也优于对照,作为覆土材料较为经济。