Mycology Cultivation 101: Quick Glossary

1. Pressure Cooker: A kitchen appliance used to cook food under high pressure, which raises the boiling point of water and allows for thorough sterilization of equipment and growing materials used in mushroom cultivation.
2. Canning Jars: Glass containers specifically designed for canning and preserving food. In mushroom cultivation, they are commonly used to prepare and sterilize substrate materials before inoculation.
3. Agar Plates: Petri dishes containing a nutrient-rich gel medium (agar) used for isolating and culturing mushroom mycelium or spores. Agar plates provide a controlled environment for observing and selecting specific strains or cultures.
4. Inoculate: The process of introducing mushroom spores or mycelium to a sterile substrate or growing medium, initiating the growth of the mushroom mycelium within that substrate.
5. Inoculation Loop: A tool, often made of metal wire, used to transfer spores or mycelium from a spore print or culture onto agar plates or other substrates for cultivation.
6. Micropore Tape: A breathable and permeable tape used to cover holes or openings in containers during mushroom cultivation. It allows for gas exchange while preventing contaminants from entering.
7. Still Air Box: A simple, small, enclosed workspace designed to minimize air movement and contamination during inoculation or transferring procedures. It helps create a controlled environment for working with cultures.
8. Laminar Flow Hood: A more advanced piece of equipment used in laboratories and advanced mushroom cultivation setups. It provides a stream of clean, filtered air to create a sterile working environment for tasks like agar work and transferring cultures.
9. Grains: Typically cereal grains like rye, wheat, or millet that are used as a base substrate for growing mushroom mycelium before transferring to a larger bulk substrate.
10. Bulk Substrate: A larger, nutrient-rich mixture of materials (such as coir, vermiculite, and others) that supports the growth of mushroom mycelium and eventually the formation of mushrooms.
11. Fruiting Conditions: The specific environmental conditions (humidity, temperature, light, and air exchange) necessary for promoting the development of fruiting bodies (mushrooms) from mycelium.
12. Transfer: The process of moving mycelium or cultures from one container to another, often done to expand or propagate the culture.
13. Isolated Culture: A culture that has been carefully selected and separated from contaminants, allowing for the growth of a specific strain or type of mushroom mycelium.
14. Sterilized: The complete elimination of all microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and spores, through processes like autoclaving or pressure cooking. This is essential for creating a clean environment for mushroom cultivation.
15. Pasteurized: A process in which growing substrates are heated to a temperature that kills off harmful organisms and some potential competitors, while still allowing beneficial microorganisms to thrive.
16. Spawn: A fully colonized substrate or material that is used to inoculate a bulk substrate for mushroom cultivation.
17. Fruiting: The stage of mushroom cultivation where the mycelium develops into visible fruiting bodies, or mushrooms.
18. Flush: A period in which a cluster of mushrooms grows and matures together. After harvesting, another flush may follow under appropriate conditions.
19. Cloning: The process of taking a tissue sample from a mushroom and using it to grow a new culture, which ensures the continuation of desired traits from the original mushroom.

These definitions should provide you with a solid understanding of the terms related to mushroom cultivation.