Mushroom Science Experiments: Tissue Cultures
Oyster Mushrooms lend themselves to tissue cultures, a fun way to expand your oyster mushroom mycellium onto new substrate.
A tissue culture is where you take a small piece of mushroom tissue and use it to grow an entire new organism.
Oyster Mushrooms grow on cellulose. You can find numerous sources of cellulose around your house including: corrugated cardboard, straw, toilet paper, and coffee grounds.
What You Need:
- Small Piece of Oyster Mushroom
- Cellulose - we recommend starting with square of corrugated cardboard cut into 4" squares.
Steps:
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.
2. Place cellulose into the boiling water for 3 - 5 minutes.
3. Remove cellulose to a pan or plate to cool.
4. Peel open cellulose and place a small piece of Oyster Mushroom on the cardboard.
5. Place the cellulose with the mushroom piece into a plastic bag and zip closed.
6. Place in a warm spot for 7 - 10 days. Check for mycellial growth.
7. Open daily for 3 weeks. Small mushrooms may begin to grow.
Photos of the Process:
