Microbiology
Oyster mushroom culture

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Microbial fuel cell

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Bubble counter

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Bacterial transformation kit

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Bioreactor

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Individual cultures

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Oyster mushroom culture

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Microbiology DVD

Gastronomes will no doubt be aware of the presence of an increasing range of exotic mushrooms on the supermarket shelves. In the Far East, oyster cap mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) are cultivated on short lengths of tree trunk. There is, however, no need to go to all this trouble. You just need a toilet roll. Mystified? Then read on ...

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Price list 2008
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HOW IT WORKS

In this very simple practical procedure, you:

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Pour boiling water into the centre of a toilet roll to moisten it;

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After the paper has cooled, and the card inner had been removed, add oyster mushroom starter culture to the centre of the roll;

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Cover the roll with plastic film to stop it drying out;

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Incubate in a warm place for 2 weeks;

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Put the toilet roll in the fridge overnight to trigger the production of the mushrooms;

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Keep the toilet roll in a humid place and at room temperature while the mushrooms are produced.

Above: Oyster mushrooms growing on a toilet roll. The odd shape is caused by poor humidity control during fruiting.

DOCUMENTATION

Download the instructions for this activity as Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files.

Safety guidelines for practical work with microbes in schools
can be found here.

PDF

Instructions
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OYSTER MUSHROOM STARTER CULTURE

Oyster mushroom starter culture ..... £12.00* (GBP)
Approx. 500 g (sufficient for at least 10 toilet rolls)
Zero rated for VAT.

Please note: All the prices on this page are in GBP and do not include Value Added Tax (VAT). This tax applies within the European Union only. Postage and packing must also be paid on orders from outside the United Kingdom.

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Copyright © National Centre for Biotechnology Education, 2008 | www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk