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UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIQUID CULTURE MUSHROOM SYRINGES VS. SPORE SYRINGES BY THE MUSHROOM SPORE STORE

If You’ve Been Looking Into the World Of Amateur Microscopy or Mycology for any Length of Time, You’ve No Doubt Heard a lot About Mushroom Spores.

Mushroom spores are the microscopic units of reproduction created by a fungal fruiting body (a mushroom). When presented with the right conditions and nutrients, spores will develop into mycelium, which is the spiderweb-type root portion of mushrooms. Fruiting bodies will then grow from the mycelium, producing spores. The cycle then begins again.

Let’s start by defining regular spore syringes and liquid spore syringes, while also detailing the differences between the two.

WHAT ARE LIQUID CULTURE SYRINGES?

Liquid cultured spores are spores stored in a microbiological growth medium. This means the liquid solution the spores are stored in contains nutrients, allowing the spores to grow. The spores will enter the mycelial phase of fungal development. The nutrient solution may vary, but typically it is distilled water, proteins, glucose and malted grain extract.

This particular mixture allows spores to start to enter the mycelial phase, and once they’ve done so, the syringe’s contents are usually transported to a spawning substrate. This will feature substantially more room and nutritional value, ideal for the mycelium to colonize upon.

WHAT ARE “REGULAR” MUSHROOM SPORE SYRINGES?

When you hear someone refer to a “spore syringe”, they are likely talking about these “regular” spore syringes. These syringes contain spores, just like liquid cultures. However, rather than a culture medium, these spores are suspended in a non-nutrient aqueous solution. This is most often distilled water.

Preserving spores in this way can be useful for mycologists who do not need to cultivate the spores right away, if ever. It also makes spore microscopy feasible since spores are the only thing present in the distilled water.

CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DECRIMINALIZED CUBENSIS!

It is crucial to always be careful noting the difference between decriminalization and legalization, which we discussed in an earlier article (this is very important, so if you skimmed that bit, scroll back up and read it!). The three municipalities in the United States which have decriminalized cubensis are as follows:

  • DENVER, COLORADO
  • OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
  • SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

THE KEY DIFFERENCE TO UNDERSTAND BETWEEN REGULAR SPORE SYRINGES AND LIQUID CULTURES FOR MUSHROOM CULTIVATION

The largest difference between liquid cultured syringes and “regular” syringes is the fact that one has nutrition available for the spores and the other does not have nutrition available. This is an important difference to understand for a few reasons.

  • For long-term storage of mushroom spores, uncultured spore syringes are best.
  • If you’re a microscopist researching spores, uncultured spores are the way to go. The nutrient-rich liquid culture will naturally change the structure of the spores as they germinate.
  • Liquid culture mushroom spore syringes are a solid choice for mycologists, planning to inoculate a substrate with the solution once the mycelium has grown enough.

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