Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Gud Day!

Can you please help me find related literature and related studies about Turkey Tail fungus??? I would like to ask how to sterilized the soil, what device will be used?? please...help me...

thank you in advance....

Dear Heirah,

Here is a webpage from University of Wisconsin that has some useful information to start from
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/aug97.html
It gives the latin name of Turkey tail fungus - you can then use this to do more searches, either using an online search engine like google or to look in an encyclopedia or library reference book on botany.

I am not sure I can answer your other question without knowing more about your project and situation (what grade and where you are doing your experiments). Scientists often use a piece of equipment called an autoclave for sterilizing things - it is a large oven that can heat to very high temperatures at high pressure which kills bacteria. But this equipment is very expensive so you usually need access to a lab to use it.

Best of luck,
Caroline

Hi Heirah,
As Caroline mentioned, you can use an autoclave. If that is not available, you can also use a large pressure cooker of the type usually used for canning. As important as sterilizing your medium is the procedure for innoculating the medium. Ideally, transfer of the fungus to the medium occurs without introducing any mold spores or bacteria. This is best done by innoculating in the air stream of a HEPA filter. If that is not available, you can do the innoculation in a clean undisturbed room with still air.

I have used the "at home" procedures (pressure cooker and still room) to grow shiitakes. Other fungus, such as oyster mushrooms, grow very aggressively and sterile techniques are not as important. I have never tried to grow Turkey Tail fungus, so I am not sure how sensitive those are to contamination.

Turkey Tail fungus grows on dead hardwood trees. It will not grow well in soil. You can purchase Turkey Tail "kits" (pre sterilized and innoculated medium):
http://www2.mailordercentral.com/fungi/ ... ber=KTV100