The most incredible thing that many people do not even think about is that most living organisms breathe air using oxygen and emit carbon dioxide and moisture.
Many people think that plants breathe carbon dioxide.
However, it is not.
Just during daylight hours, along with respiration, plants undergo the process of photosynthesis. Plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
In doing so, they release oxygen.
However, at the same time, the process of respiration in plants does not stop - both day and night they consume air oxygen for breathing, like other organisms.
Of course, we must remember that there are anaerobic organisms that do not need oxygen to breathe. However, when we talk about plants and higher fungi, they all breathe oxygen.
Mushrooms are no exception - they also breathe using the oxygen in the air and emit carbon dioxide.
We should not forget that when breathing, moisture is also necessarily released.
Mushrooms produce a lot of vaporous water, so they need moist air to grow.
Oyster mushroom grows at a humidity of 75 to 93%.
Humidity depends on the strain, temperature and stage of development of fungi.
Oyster mushroom breathes the entire surface of the fruiting body: both the cap and the stem.
Through the thin skin of the cap, air enters the inside of the fungus, which is needed for the growth of the fruiting body and the development of spores.
Mushroom tissue from the bottom of the cap, similar to lamellae, or fish gills, is scientifically called "hymenophore".
Nature created these folds not for breathing. In the depths of this fungal tissue, fungal spores mature.
Although, some air is absorbed by this part of the fruiting body, just as air enters through the cap.
Since oyster mushrooms and other fungi do not have the process of photosynthesis, they do not use carbon dioxide for their development and growth.
Moreover, an excess of carbon dioxide affects the shape of the oyster mushroom cap.
The cap is deformed and the stem is pulled out at the oyster mushroom if there is too much carbon dioxide.
See what ugly shapes mushrooms can have.
How to control CO2 emissions in a mushroom growing room is also described in this article.
Some mushroom growers say that ventilation is needed so that the mushrooms have enough oxygen.
However, this is not entirely true.
There is at least 21% oxygen in the air, and it is enough for oyster mushrooms.
However, if carbon dioxide is not removed from the oyster mushrooms using a ventilation system, it hangs over the mushrooms along with water vapor, preventing fresh air from entering.
Therefore, mushrooms cannot breathe and suffocate.
That is why they stretch their stems, trying to get away from the fumes and find fresh air.
Yes. Mycelium is a living organism, it releases carbon dioxide and moisture when it grows.
If you put mushroom blocks made on the same day in one room, then the most active growth of mycelium is observed from the fifth to the eighth or ninth day.
At this time, the content of carbon dioxide in the room can reach from 10 to 20 thousand ppm. This does not prevent the mycelium from developing, it has enough oxygen.
But, it is very difficult for a person to breathe in such a room. Therefore, you can ventilate the incubator.
But, you need to make sure that the CO2 level does not fall below 2000 ppm in the period before the formation of primordia.
If the level of carbon dioxide is lower at this point, the primordia will be loose, with a small amount of mushrooms.
After the primordia have appeared in large numbers, the CO2 level must be reduced to the level that the manufacturer suggests in the strain passport.
