A Guide to Mushroom Spores
To make sure that you don’t ingest any mushroom spores, learn as much as you can about these fungi. Learn about the health risks and what they look like. Read about their size and location. Use the iNaturalist app to record your observations and see which species you may have found. In addition, this app will suggest possible mushroom species based on their location and size. After reading this guide, you should be more informed about mushrooms.
Health risks
While mushroom spores do not directly harm humans, they can cause lung inflammation, which can lead to a chronic disease. Some species of fungi have a high tendency to thrive in plants. But when ingested, spores can lead to allergic reactions and respiratory illnesses, including asthma, lung disease, and lung infections. While many people have no adverse reactions to mushroom spores, those with allergies should avoid eating mushrooms.
Location
If you’ve ever wondered where mushrooms get their name, the answer may be right underneath your nose. Mushroom spores have a characteristic red dot near the center of their mass. This indicates the spore’s center of mass. As spores fall from densely packed gills, they tend to fall cleanly downward. The orientation of the spore’s apiculus varies by species.
Size
Mushrooms produce spores, the reproductive units of the fungus. These drop from the mushroom cap and are carried by air currents. Most of the spores fall on infertile ground. However, a small percentage of the spores fall on fertile ground, where they initiate their reproductive process and expand the underground fungus system. The size of mushroom spores varies depending on the variety.
Habitat
Mycelium produces spores and releases them into the air. Wind currents carry them and most of them fall on infertile ground. The spores that fall on fertile ground begin the reproductive process. As they develop, they produce new mushrooms and expand their underground system. Once they reach their new home, they begin decomposition and grow. Here is how mushroom spores are transported.
Growth conditions
The growth conditions for mushroom spores are very important for the development of healthy mushrooms. Spores are not light-dependent and do not contain chlorophyll, so they need a different substrate to grow. A variety of materials are suitable, from sawdust and straw to wooden plugs and grain. The substrate chosen depends on the variety of mushroom you are growing. Spores are also known as spawn, and they are blended with nutrients and moisture to form a mycelium, the fungus from which mushrooms emerge during fruiting. Spork with substrate tends to grow more vigorously and produce more mushrooms.
Storage
Mushroom spores should be stored at a temperature of 50 degrees centigrade or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. They will remain viable for up to six months, and some strains can survive years in dormancy. In order to preserve the spores, the syringes should be stored in a dark, cool place. Spore syringes should not be stored in the freezer, though some strains can withstand freezing in refrigerators.