Will Peroxide Kill Mushroom Spores?

Technique

• Hydrogen peroxide purchased at drug stores is added to the mushroom growing medium and agar spawn medium to protect them from common airborne contaminants such as other mushroom or fungi spores, which can ruin a crop of mushrooms.

Function

• Mushroom mycelium that penetrates and colonizes the growing medium is resistant to hydrogen peroxide because the mycelium enzymes break apart the hydrogen bond, turning it into water and oxygen. Any other type of fungal, bacterial or yeast spores are killed by the hydrogen peroxide.

Cost

• Hydrogen peroxide costs less than $1 per bottle and reduces the need for costly sterilizing equipment, laminar flow hoods, HEPA filters, gloves and clean rooms traditionally used in mushroom culture.

Significance

• The use of hydrogen peroxide in mushroom culture allows the home hobbyist to produce gourmet mushrooms without expensive equipment in a nonsterile environment. Clean mushroom spawn, without contaminants, will produce more and better quality mushrooms.