Trial: Shiitake 75
Documenting the lifecycle and expansion of the "Shiitake 75" strain from an older Liquid Culture (LC) through multiple generations of grain expansion and finally to bulk substrate.
Progress Log
Timeline:
- 4-26-2026: Initial inoculation of sterilized grain jars from an older Shiitake 75 LC syringe.
- 5-16-2026: Performed a Grain to Grain (G2G) transfer to expand the spawn into larger containers.
- 5-26-2026: Performed a Break and Shake (B&S) to speed up the final stages of colonization.
6-05-2026: Current status: The 1-gallon grain jar is fully colonized and looking extremely healthy. This strain is a powerhouse! The 1-gallon jar is ready for another round of G2G expansion today. I've also performed a Spawn to Bulk (S2B) transfer with a portion of this spawn to test its performance on wood-based bulk substrate. (Note: The dates in the photos may say 5-6-26, but the actual S2B start date was 6-5-2026.)
1-gallon grain jar, fully colonized and ready for G2G/S2B (6-05-2026).
6-10-2026 (Update): Powerhouse growth across the board! The G2G transfers are moving fast, and the S2B tub (started on 6-5) is already almost fully colonized. The mycelium inside the clear tub is incredibly fluffy and white. This strain's performance on bulk wood-based substrate is looking very promising.
G2G transfers showing healthy, fluffy white growth (6-10-2026).
S2B Tub: Fluffy white mycelium nearing 100% colonization (6-10-2026).
(Note: The handwritten "5-6" label is an error; S2B was actually started on 6-5-2026.)
Next Steps
The focus now shifts to the fruiting stage. I'll be monitoring the bulk substrate for colonization and looking for the characteristic "popcorning" that precedes Shiitake fruiting. Simultaneously, the G2G transfers will ensure we have a continuous supply of spawn for this high-performing strain.