Homemade vs. Commercial Spawn

Spawn is any form of mycelium that can be dispersed and mixed into a substrate. For most would-be cultivators, the easiest way to grow mushrooms is to buy spawn from a company and mix it (inoculate) into a substrate. Spawn can be purchased in a variety of forms. The most common form in India is grain spawn. Grain spawn is typically used by commercial cultivators to inoculate sterilized or pasteurized substrates. The White Button industry traditionally depends on highly specialized companies, often family-owned, which have made and sold spawn for generations. Since spawn is a living organism, it exists precariously. Spawn remains in a healthy state for a very limited period of time. Usually after 2 months, even under refrigeration, a noticeable decline in viability occurs. After this "honeymoon" period, spawn simply over-matures for lack of new food to digest. The acids, enzymes, and other waste products secreted by the mushroom mycelium become self-stifling. As the viability of the spawn declines, predator fungi and bacteria exploit the rapidly failing health of the mycelium. A mycelial malaise seizes the spawn, slowing its growth once sown onto new substrates and lowering yields. The most common diseases of spawn are competitor molds, bacteria, and viruses. Many of these diseases are only noticeable to experienced cultivators. For the casual grower, buying commercial spawn is probably the best option. Customers of commercial spawn purveyors should demand:

• The date of inoculation

• A guarantee of spawn purity

• The success rate of other clients using the spawn

• Attrition rate due to shipping.