Organic Jew´s Ear - Auricularia auricula judae - Pure Culture

Organic Jew´s Ear- Auricularia auricula judae - Pure Culture

Synonyms: Wood Ear, Jelly Ear, A. Auricularia judae, Auricularia polytricha, Mu-Err  

This mushroom has a firm texture and little inherent flavor, making it particularly receptive to the aroma of spices. In Asia, in is traditionally used in sauces and soups because it releases substances while cooking that thicken the soup or sauce, making it creamier. The Judas' ear mushroom has a gelatinous cap shaped like an ear. Generally, the cap, which can be 2 - 15cm wide, ranges in color from purple-grey-brown to dirty brown. It is surrounded by a framework of fine hairs. The surface is smooth and folded towards the center. Sometimes, this mushroom is also marketed as the Chinese morel; However, the Judas' ear is not related to morels. ​ 

Pure culture is always made fresh on demand. Production time: 3 - 6 weeks.
This product is fresh produce and should be processed immediately after delivery.
If the product cannot be processed immediately, it can be stored in refrigeration at 4 °C for a maximum of 2 weeks.
Please consider these timings when placing the order.

Suitable cultivation methods: 
wood logs, spawn bag for indoor greenhouses

Suitable substrats: hardwood
Suitable woods:  beech, birch, alder, elm, walnut, elderberry
Outdoors: this strain produces fruiting bodies in late summer to early autumn 

You receive living, actively growing, axenic cell culture, entirely free of other strains or contaminating organisms, for further propagation. Our pure cultures are custom-made and produced freshly after ordering - in a class 100 clean room environment on a solid nutrient environment (MEA) based on plant-derived raw materials. The pure culture needs around 2-3 weeks until its mature enough for shipping. The culture is supplied in special culture flasks (Filling volume: 15 ml culture medium, Growth area: 25 cm², Measurements: L x B x H = 80 x 40 x 25 mm) with breathable, hydrophobic membrane. This special design prevents introduction of contaminants and facilitates optimum gas exchange thank sto the high air flow rate of the membrane. With this packaging, the mushroom culture can withstand longer shipping distances and time without compromising quality or germination ability. 

This product is intended for professional production of grain spawn  to further propagate this strain of fungi. Working with pure cell cultures requires detailed mushroom cultivation skills. For beginners and hobby growers we recommend starting with grain spawn or sawdust spawn. 

We highly recommend reading this book - gain further knowledge for successful mushroom cultivation: 
- Growing Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms, Dr. Paul Stamets, ISBN: 978-1580081757 (English) 

Taxonomy: 
Kingdom: Agaricomycetes 
Division: insecure position (inc. sed.) 
Class: Auriculariales
Order: Auriculariaceae 
Genus: Auricularia 
Species: Auricularia auricula-judae 
Spores: 11 - 14 (17,5) x 4 - 6 µ, white, cylindrical to sausage-shaped 

Growing conditions: 
Phase 1: Mycelial growth 
Temperature: 24 - 30 °C 
Humidity: 90 - 95 % 
Duration: 25 - 40 days 
CO2: > 5.000 - 20.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 0 - 1 per hour 
Light: none 

Phase 2: Primordia Bildung / Fruiting initiation 
Temperature: 12 - 20 °C 
Humidity: 90 - 100 %
Duration: 5 - 10 days 
CO2: 600 - 1.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 5 - 8 per hour 
Light: 500 - 1.000 Lux 

Phase 3: Fruiting and Harvest 
Temperature: 21 - 30 °C 
Humidity: 85 - 90 % 
Duration: 5 - 7 days 
CO2: 2.000 - 5.000 ppm 
Fresh air exchange: 4 - 5 per hour 
Light: 500 - 1.000 Lux

Harvesting cycle: 3 - 5 crops, 2 - 3 weeks apart

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