Shiitake mushrooms grow on a log exposed to lightning-like electricity.
Posted on 04/10/2010 4:18:23 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Lightning makes mushrooms more plentiful, according to ongoing research that offers a solid scientific basis for Japanese farming lore.
For generations, Japanese farmers have welcomed storms over their fields based on the belief that lightning strikes provoke plentiful harvests of mushrooms, which are staples of Japanese cuisine.
Currently, mushroom demand is so high that dealers are increasingly turning to foreign suppliers. Japan imports about 50,000 tons of mushrooms a year, mainly from China and South Korea.
As part of a four-year study, scientists in northern Japan have been bombarding a variety of mushrooms in lab-based garden plots with artificially induced lightning to see if electricity actually makes the fungi multiply.
The latest results show that lightning-strength jolts of electricity can more than double the yield of certain mushroom species compared with conventional cultivation methods.
"We have tried these experiments with ten types of mushroom so far and have found that it is effective in eight species," said Koichi Takaki, an associate professor in engineering at Iwate University.
"We saw the best effects in shiitake and nameko mushrooms, while we also tested reishi mushrooms, which are not edible but are used in certain types of traditional Chinese medicine," he said.
Shiitake mushrooms grow on a log exposed to lightning-like electricity.
What makes them do calculus?
I’ll stick with the morels thanks.
I don’t suppose this applies to the ordinary mushrooms that grow in caves.
I love ‘shrooms.
Lightening supplies the area around with Nitrogen which causes increased growth.
Exactly what I thought when I read the title... Duh...
Thanks. Nice pic. Man those mushrooms are big!
It would be interesting to go beyond the speculation and determine the mechanism that makes this happen.
Interesting article - thanks for posting it. I’m known around where we live as “the mushroom lady” because I have been known to ask people if I can pick the mushrooms growing in their yard. I always ask if I could bring them half of what I pick and they always always say “no”. Some even say “oh, no, I buy mine at the store.” Hiding my smile, I say thank you very much and go get my haul.
I pick them in yards, farm fields and deep woods whenever I get the chance.
We have chanterelles (5 kinds), morels, meadow mushrooms, horse mushrooms, salmon waxy caps, chicken mushrooms, king boletes and other edible boletes, puffballs, shaggy manes, oyster mushrooms, hen of the woods, blewits and more here some of which grow in great profusion. My favorites to eat are chanterelles, meadow, horse, puffballs and shaggy manes by themselves, in stews and in soups.
I love mushrooms and have learned enough not to kill myself or my family with them!
Wow, Wow, Wow!
Is that you?
I have actually gotten almost that many several times and it about killed me cleaning them (I refuse to eat bugs and slug poop!). I started cleaning them just as it got dark and I was up all night until I ran out of room to dry them. The rest were stored in our extra refrigerator until I had room to deal with them. The supply just from that day lasted all winter and into the next summer.
I do have driers with trays but I have found that when the mushrooms are really wet, either from the rain or my cleaning when they are extra dirty, even low heat will scorch them. I set the trays (light weight plastic) on empty tobacco canisters under ceiling fans. Before they really dry out, I lightly cook them in olive oil, let them cool and freeze them in portions suitable for various dishes with the olive oil. I did not like the result when I dried them - too chewy and tough. Freezing them fresh was not as good either. I can just grab a frozen bag and dump it in whatever I am cooking - very easy.
If that is you in the pic, what did you do with them all?
LOL! I’m a little older and have more hair.
I love mushrooms. They contain Vitamin D and selenium and are loaded with antioxidants! I prefer them raw (more nutrients that way).
I’ve looked at various online places to buy the supplies to do this but have not tried it yet. I’m in Nova Scotia (American married to Canadian) so I’m sure not all the companies would send the stuff to me here. Do you use the company on the box and recommend it?
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