Common Abbreviations and Terms
Every craft has its own terms and shorthand. Here are some of the most common ones you'll encounter in mushroom cultivation, organized by the flow of the process.
1. Biological Basics
Mycelium
The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of white, thread-like filaments called hyphae.
Monokaryon
A single-spore culture with only one set of genetic instructions.
Dikaryon
A mated culture capable of producing mushrooms.
Karyogamy
The fusion of two monokaryons into a single fruiting culture.
Cultigen
A plant or fungus that has been deliberately selected and altered by humans; a "cultivated variety" or strain.
2. The Workspace & Tools
SAB
Still Air Box: A simple, unventilated container used to create a pocket of calm, clean air for sterile work.
FFU
Fan Filter Unit: A device used to provide a stream of HEPA-filtered air for sterile work.
PC
Pressure Cooker: Used for sterilizing growth media and tools at 15 PSI (250°F / 121°C).
PP5
Polypropylene: Heat-resistant plastic (recycling code 5) that can withstand high-temperature sterilization.
SHIP
Self-Healing Injection Port: A silicone port that allows syringe access and reseals itself automatically.
Monotub
The standard large container used to create a controlled environment for fruiting bulk substrate.
Oven Tek
Using a cracked-open oven to perform sterile work in your kitchen. Learn more here.
3. Supplies & Ingredients
ISO
Isopropyl Alcohol: 70% concentration is the standard for surface sterilization in mycology.
LME
Light Malt Extract: A sugar source derived from barley, used in both beer-making and mycology.
MSS
Multi-Spore Syringe: A syringe filled with sterile water and millions of microscopic spores.
LC
Liquid Culture: Mycelium growing in a nutritious liquid (sugar water). It allows for rapid, clean inoculation.
Swabs
Sterile cotton-tipped applicators used to collect, store, and transport spores directly from the gills of a mushroom.
Spore Prints
A concentrated map of spores collected by placing a mushroom cap gills-down on foil or paper. Used for stable, long-term genetic storage.
4. The Cultivation Process
Inoculate
To introduce spores or mycelium into a growth medium.
S2A
Spore to Agar: Starting a culture by placing spores onto an agar plate to germinate.
C2A
Clone to Agar: Transferring tissue from a fresh mushroom onto an agar plate to replicate its specific genetics.
A2A
Agar to Agar: Transferring a piece of clean mycelium from one agar plate to another to purify or expand the culture.
A2G
Agar to Grain: The process of transferring a piece of colonized agar into a jar of sterile grain.
G2G
Grain to Grain: Expanding your spawn by transferring colonized grain into new jars of sterile grain.
LC2A
Liquid Culture to Agar: Testing a liquid culture for cleanliness by dropping a small amount onto an agar plate.
LC2G
Liquid Culture to Grain: Inoculating sterile grain using a liquid culture syringe for rapid growth.
G&D
Grab and Drag: Plucking a single cotton thread from a spore swab and dragging it through agar to dilute spores for individual monokaryon isolation.
B&S
Break and Shake: The process of breaking up and redistributing colonized grain to speed up growth.
S2B
Spawn to Bulk: The process of mixing colonized grain spawn into a larger volume of substrate.
FAE
Fresh Air Exchange: Replacing CO2-heavy air with fresh oxygen to signal mushrooms it's time to grow.
5. Mindset & Pitfalls
Tek
Technique: A specific method or recipe for a mycological task.
Trich
Trichoderma: A common, aggressive green mold that is the primary competitor in mushroom cultivation.
FAFO
Fuck Around and Find Out: The spirit of experimentation. Discovery through trial and error.
KISS
Keep It Simple, Stupid: Don't overthink it. Fungi want to grow; if you provide a clean environment, they will thrive.