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Leucocoprinus cretaceus growth log and edibility tests. Full write up in part 1.

Part 1 - 31/12-23 13:52 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564282

Part 2 - 31/12-23 17:31 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564283

Part 3 - 31/12-23 19:49 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564284

Part 4 - 31/12-23 21:11 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564286

Part 5 - 31/12-23 23:16 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564287

Part 6 - 01/01-24 13:44 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564288

Part 7 - 01/01-24 21:25 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195564289

Part 8 - 01/01-24 22:42 - [This observation]

Part 9 - 03/01/24 10:25 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195939893

Part 10 - 04/01/24 12:38 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195939895

Part 11 - 04/01/24 21:55 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195939898

Part 12 - 05/01/24 02:35 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/195939901

Harvested 12g cluster from A3 comprised of three large mushrooms, two of which had conjoined stems and caps. Smaller immature mushroom also attached to the base of cluster. 7.7g fresh stems after removing caps and sclerotia.

Leucocoprinus cepistipes cultured in substrate with Cyperus esculentus planted in it. Objective was two fold - to see if L. cepistipes required a non sterile casing layer to fruit and to see if any obvious inhibition of plants would occur. Experiments with planting in L. cretaceus have resulted in some unusual growth so I want to see if Leucocoprinus species are beneficial or detrimental.

Part 1 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292338

Part 2 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292340

Part 3 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292341

Part 4 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292342

Part 5 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292327

Part 6 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292328

Part 7 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292330

Part 8 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292335

Part 9 - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/217292337

Part 10 - [This observation]

Substrate: 100g brown rice, 150ml rain water. Inoculated from agar 23/01/24.

The jar was fully colonised for months but only produced great numbers of sclerotia without any signs of fruiting. Increasing the warmth and moving it to the light did not alter this.

24/04/24 - 80g moist soil mix that had been prepared for starting plants some days prior was added to the top of the substrate.

Soil mix = 2,000g soil moist from the bag (Verve multipurpose compost from B&Q), 500g coir (Haxnicks growlite premium coir mix containing added nutrients, dried seaweed and hormones), 150g perlite and 15g gypsum that was mixed with 3,000ml boiling water to kill off the fungus gnats. The boiling water is unfortunately necessary to prevent swarms of fungus gnats but is not effective at killing off fungi as this soil mix has frequently resulted in several Conocybe species growing when using it in propagators. So the soil can be assumed to still be biologically active with fungi and bacteria.

After adding soil and planting Cyperus esculentus from a single tuber the jar was resealed and placed on a shelf in a grow tent right beside the light for warmth. The jar was opened and moved to a fruiting chamber once the plant began touching the lid. Initially the fruiting chamber just had ambient light and daylight from the nearby window but as plant growth increased and mushrooms appeared pink LED strip lighting was added on top.

10/05/24 - The first L. cepistipes mushrooms started to grow but were in the middle of the substrate.

12/05/24 - The first mushroom was observed on the top of the substrate.

16/05/24 - Three mushrooms were harvested after the caps opened or shortly before as well as some smaller pins that were attached at the base. 17.54g total after removing soil and sclerotia from the base.

These were sautéed in sunflower oil for approximately 4 minutes on a medium heat and consumed. The cap taste was pleasant and similar to the taste of L. cretaceus stems and without the off aftertaste of L. cretaceus caps. They were meatier and more substantial than the caps of L. cretaceus, though were picked shortly after opening or before expanding which is also optimal with L. cretaceus. The stems however were rubbery, chewy and soggy without substantial flavour to overcome the texture. They were hollow and pithy rather than having the firm, meaty consistency of L. cretaceus so did not cook as well. They may have benefited from a bit more heat/cooking duration. I’ll try them again when more grow but I think L. cretaceus is the better edible mushroom.

No side effects occurred as a result of consumption. There was no interaction with alcohol.

These results seem to suggest that Leucocoprinus cepistipes probably does need a non-sterile casing layer to fruit and explains why jars of either soil or rice substrate have been sat essentially idle for months. Leucocoprinus cretaceus on the other hand will fruit easily in the jar without this non-sterile layer being added.

Growth of Cyperus esculentus appears good but further experiments will compare growth rates with and without this species and others being present.