UM3 substrate yields good results.

The first flush data has just been calculated for our second round of UM3 Shiitake substrate trials. These specific blocks were tested to establish the effect that block maturity has on the size and quality of the first flush. The biological effeciency (BE%) was calculated as the saleable mushroom weight divided by the dry matter of the substrate.

BE% for the first flush was 43.6% (436 grams fresh saleable mushroom per kilogram dry substrate) and the timeline was 42 days from innoculation to the beginning of the first flush. Mushrooms were picked over a 3 day period and all mushrooms were harvested by day 45.

We are particularly pleased about the size and quality of the mushrooms harvested. The ratio of deformed mushrooms was very low as were the number of mushrooms with cap size under 5cm diameter.

Pinning on some blocks were somewhat localized initially and that resulted in bell shaped mushrooms that appeared "pinched" in places. After a small change to our growing protocols the trial blocks produced a more evenly distributed pin set and the mushroom's shape was visibly improved on blocks initiated in this manner.

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