King Oyster Mushroom
Scientific name: Pleurotus eryngii
Synonyms: King Oyster Mushroom, King Oyster, King Trumpet Mushroom, Xing Bao Gu, Eringi, Saesongi Peoseot
Distribution and habitat in nature: The king oyster mushroom grows mainly on the roots of umbelliferous plants, especially in southern Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, and southern Russia; occasionally it can also be found on the roots of other plants such as roses.
Ingredients: Pleurotus eryngii is rich in B vitamins such as B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B5 (niacin), B6, and B7 (biotin). It also contains folic acid and vitamins C and D (calciferol). A quarter of the dry matter of the mushroom consists of proteins, which contain all essential amino acids. Important constituents of Pleurotus eryngii include β-glucans (polysaccharides), pleuran and lovastatin.
Suitable substrates: Hardwood (especially elm, beech, poplar, linden, maple, willow, oak), wheat straw
Usage: Edible mushroom, medicinal mushroom
The mushroom is known for its delicate, mildly nutty aroma and its flesh, which has a texture similar to that of porcini mushrooms. It is used fresh for frying, grilling, or braising, dried as a powder for seasoning, and is considered beneficial to health in Asian medicine and nutrition. It is also an important cultivated mushroom in breeding and research.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Basidiomycetes
Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
Order: Agaricales
Family: Pleurotaceae
Genus: Pleurotus
Species: Pleurotus eryngii
Spores: Whitish, 7–9.5 µ x 3.5 µ
Cultivation conditions:
Phase 1: Mycelium growth
Temperature: 24°C
Humidity: 90–95%
Duration: 12–16 days
CO2: 5,000–20,000 ppm
Air exchange rate: 1 per hour
Light: Not applicable
Phase 2: Primordia formation / Start of fruiting
Temperature: 10–15°C
Humidity: 95–100%
Duration: 4 - 5 days
CO2: 500 - 1,000 ppm
Air exchange rate: 4 - 8 per hour
Light: 500 - 1,000 lux
Phase 3: Fruit formation and harvest
Temperature: 15–21°C
Humidity: 85–90%
Duration: 4–8 days
CO2: <2,000 ppm
Air exchange rate: 4–5 per hour
Light: 500–1,000 lux
