The word 'casing' means covering of mushroom beds with a layer of soil (casing soil). Though the exact origin of this step in mushroom culture is not known, yet its use seems to have been two hundred year old. Casing soil is a nutrient deficient medium which provide nutritional stress to vegetative mushroom mycelium to encourage fruit. It regulate temperature and prevents quick drying of spawned compost. It also gives mechanical support to the mushroom sporophore.
In 1974, MacCanna and Flanagen have developed a spawned casing technique, in which small quality of fully run spawn are added to casing medium before application to mushroom beds. This results in early commencement of crop and simplifying the management of pre-fruiting period. This practice is widely used for the cultivation of button mushroom where pin is developed due to nutritional stress provided by casing soil. However, it is not necessary for oyster mushroom cultivation where primordia develop and economic optimum yield can be obtained without using casing application.
I have observed the effect of spawned and simple casing on the cultivation of pink oyster mushroom Pleurotus eous. The results exhibit that spawned casing not only takes lesser time for case run but also produces early primordial development. A positive response on mushroom biomass is also noticed in this technique. (PDF copy)
In 1974, MacCanna and Flanagen have developed a spawned casing technique, in which small quality of fully run spawn are added to casing medium before application to mushroom beds. This results in early commencement of crop and simplifying the management of pre-fruiting period. This practice is widely used for the cultivation of button mushroom where pin is developed due to nutritional stress provided by casing soil. However, it is not necessary for oyster mushroom cultivation where primordia develop and economic optimum yield can be obtained without using casing application.
I have observed the effect of spawned and simple casing on the cultivation of pink oyster mushroom Pleurotus eous. The results exhibit that spawned casing not only takes lesser time for case run but also produces early primordial development. A positive response on mushroom biomass is also noticed in this technique. (PDF copy)
 |
| Effect of casing technique on cropping of Pleurotus eous Photo © Dr. Siddhant Oys |
Cite this as: Siddhant and OP Ukaogo (2017): Spawned Casing vs Simple Casing. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research. 4(1):1-5.