PLP 150C1 1st Edition Lecture 12Outline of Last Lecture I. History of cultivationII. Mushrooms in the marketIII. Chester County, PAA. Why PA?IV. Agaricus bisporusOutline of Current Lecture I. Growing fungiII. PoisonA. AmatoxinsIII. Mushroom collecting Current LectureTeaching opportunities with fungi• The Fungal Foray - collecting and identifying fungi in nature: a quintessential ecological adventure.Growing fungi• All you need is some simple equipment!• Prepare & sterilize the substrate• Seal the bag• Inoculate through sterile patch & mix• Incubate at species-specific temperature.• You can grow them in cases, bottles, on logs!The study & cultivation of mushrooms provides an excellent opportunity for education and economic development, both as small businesses & as larger financial investments.Today• 14,000 mushroom species• 60 have been cultivatedBut be careful• Contain amatoxins - deadly liver toxin that causes liver failure 1-3 days after ingestion. A very slow death. Its principal toxin is from the genus Amanita.• In Chantrelle mushrooms - has muscarine, a neurotoxin, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, perspiration, and tears. In high doses, it can because respiratory failure inabout 8 years after ingestion.• In Psilocybe Spp. - there’s psilocin and psilocybin, which some people find pleasing.• In Galerina Spp. - there are many amatoxins, which most people find deadly.Tips on mushroom collecting• Dig, don’t pick• Look for evidence of spore color on surrounding vegetation. Otherwise make a spore print.• Keep all species separate• Don’t collect when they’re wet, and put in paper bags• Cut all puffballs open• Don’t eat wild ones raw• Don’t feed wild ones to children under 5• Only eat those that are absolutely identifiable. Careful of white-capped ones with stem rings or swollen bases.• Learn to cope with latin
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