Mushrooms found in the forest are the original source for all commercial mushroom strains. Collecting spores to propagate these wild mushrooms can be a bit of a gamble, since you don’t know what kind of genetics you’ll end up with.
However, cloning offers a much more reliable way to grow new mushroom strains. By creating identical genetic copies in a lab, you can cultivate mushrooms for food or medicine, ensuring the prolific strain you choose is well-suited to your local conditions, especially if you are growing outside where the strain is already genetically adapted to the local environment.
As an intermediate mushroom grower, you might want to expand your knowledge and learn how to copy mushrooms that display interesting characteristics. These could be unique genetics such as larger fruits, faster colonisation, or other valuable traits. Cloning mushrooms gives you the chance to capture these traits for future benefit.
Whether you are looking for a comprehensive guide or simply want an in-depth understanding of the process, it’s important to follow step-by-step instructions. Various methods exist, and the right one will depend on the materials needed and your personal preferences. By mastering this technique, you’ll add a vital skill to your repertoire as a grower.
How to Clone Mushrooms
[su_note note_color=”#bbf3bd”]Mushrooms in the forest are the source of all commercial strains, but collecting spores can yield unpredictable genetics. Cloning offers a reliable alternative, allowing for the creation of genetically identical mushrooms tailored to local conditions. As an intermediate grower, you can benefit from cloning mushrooms with desirable traits like larger fruits or faster colonization. Following step-by-step instructions and selecting the right method will enhance your skills as a grower.[/su_note]
Step by step Cloning Guide
Cloning mushrooms is a fairly simple process, whether you’re working with cloning wild species, cultivated species, or even store-bought fruits. It starts with taking a small piece of tissue from the mushroom fruit body and placing it on agar. Once in this environment, the mycelium will begin to grow out across the surface until a pure culture is achieved
This whole strategy works because the mushroom fruit body, even after being picked, is still a living, breathing part of the mycelium network, with its cells ready to reproduce. The best grain spawn for cubensis helps to enhance this process, providing an optimal environment for growth and reproduction.
By transferring live tissue to nutrient rich agar, the cells quickly spring into action, allowing the mycelium to start propagating across the plate.
This process not only preserves the genetics of the original mushroom but also ensures a healthy, productive culture ready for further cultivation.
Why Not Start From Spores?
While starting from spores might seem like an exciting way to search for novel strains, it’s often a crapshoot. When you place millions of spores on an agar plate, they may germinate and begin to grow as hyphae, which are single-celled filaments containing only half the genetic information needed to create a fruit body.
For mycelium to form, two hyphae need to meet and then create a new strain. This leads to a wide range of genetic variations, making the results highly unpredictable.
That’s why most commercial growers prefer working with proven strains. With cloning, you can guarantee that the genetics of your culture will be exactly the same as the fruit the clone was taken from.
Though starting from spores does have its applications, it’s not ideal if you’re seeking predictable results.
Harvesting Tissue for Cloning
When harvesting tissue from a mushroom fruit body, it’s important to focus on the best sites for gathering reproductive cells. The stem butt, which often holds remnants of mycelium, or areas underneath the cap near the gills, are great places to start.
However, avoid using actual gill tissue, as it can be difficult to ensure cleanliness and may be covered in mushroom spores that could germinate and lead to a novel strain rather than a true clone.
Personally, I like to take tissue from the inside of the stem, where you can get the cleanest sample. While it might be slower to grow than the rapidly reproducing cells found just under the gills, this method reduces the risk of contamination, which is common in contaminate-rich environments like the stem butt. By targeting these areas, you can ensure a successful cloning process with minimal complications, especially when growing mushrooms indoors.
Cloning Mushrooms at Home
Step 1: Choosing and Preparing the Mushroom
The first step to cloning mushrooms is selecting the right fruit body. Look for a relatively large fruit body as small specimens or thin fleshed species can make it difficult to obtain clean tissue samples. Once you’ve selected the mushroom, you’ll need to clean the outside of the fruitbody with an alcohol soaked cloth. Be prepared to damage the mushroom during this process, which will make it not suitable for eating, so be willing to sacrifice it for the clone.
Here’s why this is important:
- The outside of the fruit body is often exposed to air, which means it’s likely covered in contaminants.
- Wiping it down with alcohol helps to eliminate some of the hazard but won’t completely remove all contaminants.
- It’s key to reduce contamination as much as possible before placing it on the plate, minimising the potential for contamination.
By following this method, you increase your chances of a successful cloning process.
How to Clone Mushrooms
Step 2: Splitting the Mushroom for Cloning
After the fruit body has been thoroughly cleaned, it’s time to tear it in half in a sterile environment. This step is crucial, and using a flow hood or a SAB (still air box) can help maintain cleanliness. Make sure to tear the fruit instead of cutting it to avoid pushing contaminants from the outside of the fruit into the center of the fruit body, especially when building a mushroom farm.
Here’s why tearing is important:
- The inside of the mushroom is naturally sterile, containing only fertile mushroom cells.
- Cutting may introduce unwanted particles, while tearing keeps the center pure.
- If you’re using a flow hood, always keep the fruit body in the downstream of the flow hood to ensure maximum protection from contaminants.
By following these precautions, you help maintain the integrity of the sample for a successful cloning process.
Step 3: Moving the Mushroom Tissue
To begin transferring tissue, start with a flame sterilized scalpel and remove a small piece of tissue from the inside of the fruit body. I always flame sterilize the scalpel before tearing the fruitbody and let it cool in the stream of the airflow. You can also dip it in the clean agar plate to cool it down before the transfer. Make sure the scalpel is cool before contacting the mushroom, as heat could kill the tissue.
When selecting the places to remove tissue, aim for the thickest, fleshiest part of the mushroom, such as the center of the stem or center of the cap. Almost any species will have cells from these areas that are suitable for cloning.
- You can scrape the scalpel along the mushroom or cut a small square of tissue, though cutting may feel cumbersome.
- Place the tissue upstream onto the agar dish with a smooth motion, keeping the agar plate open for as little time as possible, especially when using a SAB.
- It’s helpful to place three pieces of tissue in a triangle pattern on one single plate, as not every piece will grow, and some may become contaminated. Using multiple pieces on each plate is much more economical.
Step 4: Storing and Monitoring the Plates
Once the inoculated plates are ready, they should be wrapped in parafilm or masking tape and stored on a shelf at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. To protect the plates from dust and other airborne contaminants, it’s helpful to place them in a Ziploc bag.
- Watch the plates closely over the next 2-3 days to see mycelium growing radially from the tissue.
- Sometimes, you’ll get a clean culture on the first try, but contamination is common, especially with wild clones.
- If contamination occurs, perform culture transfers by moving clean mycelium from the contaminated plate to a new dish.
- Repeat the process a few times until you achieve a fully clean culture.
- If the plate becomes overly contaminated with no visible clean mycelium, it’s best to throw it out and try again.
By being diligent and patient, you can successfully grow a clean mushroom culture.
Cloning Examples
Wild Mushrooms
One of the best ways to explore the fascinating world of mushrooms is through cloning. Recently, I had the pleasure of venturing into the forest to find some interesting wild mushrooms. Among them was a species of Trametes, specifically Trametes hirsuta. I was excited to bring it back to my lab and save its culture by creating a clone.
This experience is not just about having fun; it’s about understanding the unique uses of cloning, which allows us to cultivate these remarkable organisms in a more controlled environment. One essential component in this process is using grain spawn for growing mushrooms. After just one transfer, I was able to achieve a clean culture, making it a straightforward process. After just one transfer, I was able to achieve a clean culture, making it a straightforward process.
Having the ability to clone these mushrooms is incredibly worth the effort, especially knowing that I have a culture saved for perpetuity. Each step in this process, from discovering the mushrooms to successfully cloning them, reinforces my passion for mycology and the endless possibilities it offers for cultivating new species.
Whether you’re a seasoned forager or a curious beginner, there’s always something to learn from the art of mushroom cloning.
Store Bought Mushrooms
One interesting use case for cloning is making copies of store bought mushrooms. You can easily clone popular types like Shiitake, Button Mushrooms, and even Oysters. To ensure the best results, it’s important to choose your specimens carefully. Always aim for the fresh ones, as this can significantly increase your chances of success. For example, I once successfully cloned a Shiitake mushroom from a store-bought one, and it was rewarding to see it grow. With the right approach, you can turn your kitchen finds into thriving mushroom cultures.
Saving a Strain
I once almost lost a valuable strain of Pink Oyster mushrooms (Plerotus djamor) because I made the mistake of placing all the plates and culture slants in a fridge that was too cold. Most strains of Pink Oyster won’t survive in such low temperatures.
Fortunately, when I noticed that everything in the fridge had died, I remembered I had a fresh fruiting block with Pink Oyster fruits. I was able to take a clone from those fruits and save the strain.
Without that quick action, my favorite mushroom would have been gone forever! This experience taught me the importance of careful temperature management when working with mushroom cultures.
Final Thoughts: Mastering Mushroom Cloning
Cloning mushrooms may seem complex at first, but by following each step carefully, it becomes manageable.
From selecting and cleaning the fruitbody to carefully tearing it open and transferring tissue to an inoculated plate, every part of the process matters. With the right sterile techniques—like using a flame sterilized scalpel and keeping your workspace clean—you can ensure success.
While contamination might occur, especially with wild clones, using methods like culture transfers will help you grow a clean culture. Remember to monitor the plates as mycelium grows radially, and if needed, don’t hesitate to try again.
Each of these steps, from careful storage to patient observation, brings you closer to mastering mushroom cloning.