Transplanting Funghi?

[Steve Wurzel]

Anybody here tried, or have info on transplanting wild mushrooms to another area in the wild?

Is it even a good idea "messing with nature" in this way?

I'm thinking of getting a hold of a few edible funghi and transplanting spores to another similar growing area for harvesting maybe in the following years.

Hints and tips, does and don'ts appreciated.

[Stewy]

Not a good idea, leave them where they are.

I don't think it would work anyway. how about trying a growing kit?

[Leif]

Many fungi grow in association with a tree or other organism, and so just moving some of the fungus, such as spores, will not work. A good example is the edible truffle (Tuber species). It is possible to buy saplings inoculated with the fungus. You plant the sapling, wait a decade or two and harvest. Dead easy. I think the research was done in Australia, and some people in the UK are now harvesting fruiting bodies.

Other fungi grow on leaf mulch, or woody debris. In this case you could cultivate the spores in a petri dish with a suitable growth medium, transfer some germinated spores to a cooked rice substrate, allow it to grow, then transplant the mycelium to the final substrate such as wood, or even toilet rolls! I have germinated spores, and cultured them on cooked rice, and it is not that hard. But I failed to get them to fruit.

There is a book called Mushrooms in the Garden (originally Pilze im Garten) by Hellmut Steineck which might be of help. It is a bit old, but it is pretty good. There are other books available, though they tend to be expensive.

[Leif]

Originally Posted by Stewy

Not a good idea, leave them where they are.

I don't think it would work anyway. how about trying a growing kit?

Probably the best option to start with anyway.

[Steve Wurzel]

I was thinking more along the lines of finding a mature beech and introducing it to a Pennybun spores for example.

I guess it must work otherwise nature couldn't take it's course, but I wouldn't want to shorten the life of the tree by doing that, which is my main concern.

Thanks for the growing kit idea, I hadn't seen them, I have a Shitake log, but that is something different, the Giant Morel kits look great!!

Originally Posted by Leif

you could cultivate the spores in a petri dish with a suitable growth medium, transfer some germinated spores to a cooked rice substrate, allow it to grow, then transplant the mycelium to the final substrate such as wood, or even toilet rolls!

What is a a suitable growth medium for germinating spores Leif?

Originally Posted by Stewy

Not a good idea, leave them where they are.

Can you be a bit more specific Stewy, what problems do you forsee?

Thanks again for replies.

[Fungus Ken]

There isn't a simple answer to this because it is a complex subject area and the truth is there are still many things even the experts don't know about the ecology of fungi. Here's a few thoughts from my perspective.

Lots of species of fungi can be translocated by spreading the spores but it depends very much on whether there are vacant ecological niches for the fungus to establish itself.

It would be poor conservation practice to attempt to randomly spread fungi to new sites with existing nature conservation value, although conservationists are considering the possibility of attempting to translocate species that are endangered or vulnerable in the UK.

However, when it comes to mycorrhizal species it is not so easy. It takes a long time for these relationships to establish and in long established nature conservation sites the existing fungal community may well outcompete any introduced species.

By the way, there is no suggestion that the mycorrhizal relationship between fungi and trees is in any way detrimental. Quite the opposite. Research suggests it is a mutually beneficial relationship ie a symbiotic one. The tree benefits from nutrients gathered from the soil by the fungus, particularly phosphates, because the hyphae are perhaps as much as 100 times more efficient at taking up these nutrients that the tree's root hairs. The fungus benefits from the the tree's photosynthetic products.

If you have a garden with a variety of habitats try an experiment yourself. This is a very artificial habitat without long-established fungal communities and there are often opportunities for new fungi to establish themselves. Once you have finished with any finds you have brought back to identify, try scattering the mushrooms in likely spots and watch what happens. It may take years but you will definitely increase the prospect of having a wider range of fungi appearing in your garden.

Ken

[Leif]

"What is a a suitable growth medium for germinating spores?"

I recall that you pour some hot nutrient into a petri dish, put on a cover, and wait for it to cool. You then inoculate the nutrient. I presume you buy the nutrient from lab suppliers. I was doing this 20 years ago and my memory is not so good.

The main problem with this sort of thing is avoiding contaminants since the air is full of spores, some of which are fungal.

Some years back one of my late mother's neighbours had some rather nice field mushrooms on his lawn. Mind you, they tend to pick up and chemicals that might have been sprayed on the grass.

Now that I think about it, you might be able to grow some Agaricus tesco mycelium on rice, and then place lumps under your lawn in the hope that it will take. Make sure you water the lawn. I think Mushrooms in the Garden mentions this. Still, it's easier to just go to Tesco et al and buy 'em.

[Steve Wurzel]

Originally Posted by Leif

"What is a a suitable growth medium for germinating spores?"

Thanks Leif, nothing special for mushroom spores I take it?

Agar is the usual stuff, then you get different nutrients in that for various purposes..
Agar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Perhaps even kiddy "jelly" would be suitable to get them started..

We do not supply them with agar since different micro-organisms need specific nutrient agar; so you would have to make your own anyway. Gelatin ("jello") can be used instead although it liquifies around room temperature. Some health food, baking goods or oriental groceries do carry real agar though.

I think I'lll have a go this way.. shop bought field mushrooms sound like a fun safe bet..

Sprinkle the pores on a dish of jelly, get some growth going, then sprinkle in some cold boiled rice, wait until the funghi is feeding on the rice and plant in the lawn, perhaps with some guinea pig fertiliser ..

(Luckily I don't use any chemicals as we have guinea pigs to mow and fertilise the lawn )

If it works, (which sounds unlikely,) it is the sort of thing that could be taught in DIY/primary school mushroom classes. Then I might set my sights on more ambitious DIY log plug manufacture.

Either way it seems like I'm going off half cock, so I'll need to read some more, but sounds like I'll have fun trying

Thanks again for the info guys. I'll probably end up growing e-coli and killing the guinea's by the sound of it