Domestication of bioluminescent mushrooms: production in pilot scale

Abstract

The bioluminescent mushrooms are found in temperate and tropical since the temperature is mild (20 to 30 °C), high humidity and there decomposing lignocellulosic material. There are some studies focused on the physiology and ecology of bioluminescent fungi, but the information related to production technology and growth in a controlled environment is little explored. Thus the objective of this work is to develop techniques for the production of bioluminescent mushrooms, considering the cultivation substrate and the influence of light on the production of these fungi. There will be 2 similar experiments, differing only the production environment, i.e. both crops will be conducted in specific climatic chambers for the production of edible mushrooms (with temperature, humidity, and CO2 control), however, one will receive natural lighting, which solar radiation enters the growing environment and the other does not. In the experiments, four-strain of bioluminescent fungi (Panellus stipticus, Mycena luxaeterna, Omphalotus olearius and Neonothopanus gardneri) and 4 substrate formulations based on sawdust (SE), coconut fiber (FC), crushed sugar cane (CA) and crushed brachiaria (BR), will be used, with supplemented of wheat bran, rice brain, calcite and gypsum. After the total colonization of the mycelium in the substrate, the casing layer based on peat moss (2.5 cm in height) will be added. For induction the fruiting every 10 days the temperature will be reduced by 5ºC, i.e. it will be 10 days at 28ºC, then 10 days at 23ºC and finally 10 days at 18°C. The total production cycle will last 80 days. Myelium running time, time for 1st flush, a number of flushes, yield, number and weight of mushrooms will be evaluated. The results obtained will be submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and later compared to the Tukey test at 5% of probability.