Question

In mushroom cultivation, Spawn is
A. Compost
B. button stage
C. Vegetative mycelium
D. Harvested mushroom

Answer 1

Hint: During the spawn-production process, mycelium from a mycelial culture is positioned onto the steam-sterilized grain. And in some time the mycelium completely grows through the grain. This grain/mycelium mixture is known as spawn. Spawn is used to "seed" mushroom compost. Spawn is mostly made with mycelium from a stored culture because each spore is likely to yield a new strain, and its performance is unpredictable.

Complete answer: Option A- Compost
Mushroom compost is the same as the simple compost and is used to grow mushrooms. Commercial mushrooms are grown in varying mixtures of manure and straw to grow the varieties. The compost is inoculated with the desired fungus, is spread across growing beds, and kept cool and moist until harvest.

Option B- Button stage
The button stage is referred to when mushrooms are about halfway in development. At that time, they are often referred to as button mushrooms.

Option C- Vegetative mycelium
Mushrooms are heterotrophic organisms, unlike plants, they require external nutrients to grow and the vegetative mycelium (hypha network) supplies nutrients for the growth of basidiomes (reproductive stage).

Option D- Harvested mushroom
Mushrooms grow best to grow 3 cm (1 inch) in a week, which is the normal size for harvesting. The first flush is harvested in week 3 and Nine days after the first flush, the second flush will be harvested. The second flush often comprises larger, but fewer mushrooms than the first flush.

So, the correct option is C- Vegetative mycelium.

Note: Spawn making refers to an asexual method of propagation similar to dicing a potato. It is done so an "eye" can be planted. Spawn making is a fairly complex task and is not feasible for the average mushroom grower. Spawn may be purchased from a number of commercial spawn manufactures.