MUSHROOMS

Understanding Generation 2 liquid mycelium products

Understanding Generation 2 liquid mycelium products: needles, syringes and injection ports

First, before we dive into the practical applications of liquid mycelium products, let’s ask ourselves the following questions: “What is liquid spawn – liquid mycelium?” and “Why and when would you choose liquid mycelium instead of solid mycelium”? Both very relevant and important questions.

What is liquid spawn?

Liquid spawn is a term used in the mycelium production industry, which refers to a suspension of living mycelial hyphae that are floating in an enriched medium and which are meant for further multiplication step, both on solid and liquid state. In other words: liquid spawn can be mixed into substrates, sawdust spawn and grain spawn, but it can also be mixed into a larger fermentor.

Why and when would you choose liquid mycelium instead of solid mycelium?

This topic has been the subject of debate since the 1950’s. The answer remains unclear. The truth is, when a suitably formulated liquid is stirred or aerated well, the mycelium of most cultivable species will grow very well in the suspension. The build-up of biomass is swift, the results satisfactory.

As an inoculation material – spawn – it performs rather poor the first days due to the long lag phase. Fortunately, due to its nature, it offers a great number of inoculation points which, if mixed well, will spark a remarkable comeback throughout the inoculated material. The result is a nice, homogeneous mass of beautiful product which can in many cases be ‘ready’ faster than a product that was inoculated with a solid inoculum.

There are a number of reasons to be cautious though.

1. Liquid inoculum is only faster due to the larger amount of inoculation points and due to the ease of distribution. If the distribution is incomplete, inconsistent, or if it is compared to a substrate that was heavily inoculated with solid inoculum, all advantage is lost.

2. Liquid inoculum does not lie. It is extremely sensitive to contamination. 1 bacterium, 1 foreign contaminant, and the complete product is spoiled. On top of that, spotting contaminations by moulds in liquid inoculum is almost impossible.

Then when is liquid inoculum your best pick?

1. You’re producing your own grain spawn in not-ideal circumstances and you need a safe inoculation technique. Our syringes are your way forward.

2. You are producing your very own fermentor and you need safe inoculum which will not block any ducts or tubes.

When is liquid inoculum not your best pick?

1. You’re completely set up to work with grain spawn and your production is rather sizeable

2. You have the (false) belief that liquid inoculum is somehow ‘better’ than solid state inoculum

3. You’re hoping to get a mass of spores in a suspension

What are “Generation 2” liquid mycelium products? Meet our needles, syringes and injection ports

At Mycelia, “Generation 2” mycelium products are derived straight from a verified high-performing mycelium strain. They come in the form of syringes with needles and/or with an injection tube. They have been specifically designed to withstand difficult and worldwide transport safely.

You can use them to inoculate Generation 3 and Generation 4 products, such as inoculum, fermentors, and any type of (mushroom) spawn. While they can be used to inoculate substrates, it’s important to note that this isn’t their primary purpose and may not yield the highest value.

If you have questions about mycelium generations and their respective products, we recommend visiting our webshop. When selecting any strain from the shop, you’ll find a button labeled “Click here to make sure you order the right product.” Clicking this button will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

How do I use liquid spawn in syringes?

Our liquid spawn in syringes serves two main purposes:

1. Inoculating fermentors

To inoculate fermentors, follow these steps:

– Open the inoculation port in front of a laminar flow.

– Inject the liquid spawn using the syringe tube.

– Close the fermentor immediately to prevent contamination.

– Set the fermentor to the appropriate temperature and allow it to incubate.

2. Inoculating Generation 4 grain or sawdust spawn

When using the product to inoculate spawn, there are two options:

Option 1: Using the small syringe with a Sterile Needle

– Once the sterile spawn has cooled down, place the sealed bags in a laminar airflow.

– Use our syringe with a sterile needle to inject the liquid spawn through the plastic bag.

Disinfect the bag, inject the liquid, and seal the hole immediately.
Shake the bag thoroughly and let it incubate.

Option 2: Using the inoculation tube with a larger syringe

This method allows you to inoculate multiple bags at once.

Place the bags of sterilized spawn in a laminar airflow.
Use the tube to inject the liquid spawn into the bags.
Make sure you do not touch the inside of the bags to maintain sterility.
Seal the bags afterward, shake, and let incubate.

By following these guidelines, you can effectively use our Generation 2 mycelium products for their intended applications. For more detailed instructions and to explore our product range, please visit our webshop and utilize the information provided for each strain.