The Mushroom Glossary.                      

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Expand your knowledge and learn the definitions of words/phrases commonly used throughout mushroom cultivation.

Mushroom Cultivation Glossary
  • Abort – A mushroom that stops growing before full maturity.
  • Agar – A gelatinous substance used to culture mycelium.
  • Agar Plate – A petri dish filled with agar for growing mycelium.
  • Aseptic Technique – Sterile methods to prevent contamination.
  • Autoclave – A machine that sterilizes using high-pressure steam.
  • Bruising – Discoloration on mushrooms due to stress or damage - not contam.
  • Cake – A fully colonized substrate block.
  • Casing Layer – A non-nutritive layer applied to retain moisture.
  • Clone – A genetically identical copy of a mushroom.
  • Cobweb Mould – A fast-growing mould that resembles cobwebs.
  • Cold Shock – Lowering temperatures to trigger fruiting. Typically by submerging cake in water.
  • Colonization – The process of mycelium spreading through the substrate.
  • Contamination (Contam) – The presence of unwanted mould or bacteria.
  • Coir (Coconut Coir) – A bulk substrate made from coconut husks.
  • Culture – A living mycelium sample propagated on agar or liquid culture.
  • CVG Substrate – A mixture of coir, vermiculite, and gypsum.
  • Dehydrator – A device used to dry mushrooms for storage.
  • Endospore – A bacterial spore that resists sterilization.
  • FAE (Fresh Air Exchange) – The process of replacing stale, CO2-rich air with fresh, oxygen-rich air.
  • Flush – A cycle of mushroom growth from a substrate.
  • Flow Hood – A device providing a sterile airflow environment.
  • Fruit – The reproductive structure of a fungus (mushroom).
  • Fruiting Chamber – A container designed for optimal mushroom growing conditions.
  • Fungus Gnats – Small insects that can infest mushroom substrates.
  • Genetics – The hereditary traits of a mushroom strain.
  • Germination – The development of mycelium from spores.
  • Gills – The structures under a mushroom cap where spores form.
  • Gourmet Mushrooms – Edible mushrooms cultivated for culinary use.
  • Grain Spawn – Sterilized grain colonized with mycelium.
  • Gypsum – A mineral added to improve substrate texture and growth.
  • HEPA Filter – A high-efficiency air filter used in sterile workspaces.
  • Hygrometer – A tool to measure humidity levels.
  • Hyphal Knot – The early stage of mushroom formation.
  • Incubate – Keeping colonizing substrates at an optimal temperature.
  • Inoculation – Introducing spores or mycelium into a substrate.
  • Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) – A disinfectant for tools and surfaces.
  • Isolation – Selecting specific mycelial growth for cloning or testing.
  • Laminar Flow Hood – A device that provides a sterile air environment.
  • Liquid Culture (LC) – A nutrient-rich solution containing live mycelium.
  • Malt Extract – A sugar source used in liquid culture and agar plates.
  • Medium – A nutrient source for growing mycelium (agar, grain, etc.).
  • Metabolites – A yellow liquid secreted by mycelium when stressed.
  • Monotub – A plastic tub designed for mushroom cultivation.
  • Microorganism – A microscopic organism, such as bacteria or fungi.
  • Mycelium – The vegetative part of a fungus that colonizes substrates.
  • Parafilm – A flexible sealing film used for petri dishes.
  • Pasteurization – A heat treatment that kills harmful microbes while preserving beneficial ones.
  • Perlite – A mineral used to retain moisture in fruiting chambers.
  • Pins – The early stage of mushroom formation.
  • Pressure Cooker – A device used to sterilize substrates and tools with steam.
  • Psilocybin/Psilocin – The psychoactive compounds in certain mushrooms.
  • Rhizomorphic Growth – A strong, thread-like mycelial growth pattern.
  • SAB (Still Air Box) – A sealed workspace to reduce contamination risks.
  • Side-Pinning – Mushrooms growing along the sides of a tub/bag.
  • Spawn – Mycelium growing on a nutrient-rich substrate.
  • Spore – The reproductive unit of fungi.
  • Spore Print – A collection of spores from a mushroom cap.
  • Spore Syringe – A syringe containing spores in sterile water.
  • Sterile – Free from contaminants.
  • Sterile Technique – Methods to prevent contamination during cultivation.
  • Substrate – The material mushrooms grow on.
  • Tek – A term for a specific growing technique.
  • Wet Rot – A bacterial contamination caused by excess moisture.
  • Yield – The total weight of mushrooms harvested.