Significant breakthrough in artificial domestication and cultivation technology of chicken fir fungus

Recently, good news came from the Cultivation and Physiology Research Center of Sichuan Edible Fungi Research Institute. After 10 years of technological breakthroughs, a major breakthrough has been made in the domestication research of the wild rare edible mushroom, the chicken mushroom.

The director of the center, Li Xiaolin, led a team to simulate the wild growth environment of chicken mushroom through biomimetic simulation, successfully achieving mushroom production in the laboratory, laying a solid technical foundation for the next step of promoting the large-scale production of chicken mushroom.

Wild rare edible mushrooms are delicious, nutritious, and have high economic value, making them a favorite among foodies. The Sichuan Edible Fungi Research Institute has successfully achieved indoor domestication of chicken fir mushrooms, which will bring the possibility of large-scale artificial cultivation of chicken fir mushrooms and greatly benefit farmers' income and wealth.

Chicken Fir Fungus, also known as Chicken Fir Fungus, Litchi Fungus, or Umbrella Fungus, is a type of fungus belonging to the Amanita family and the Ant Nest Umbrella genus. Its fruiting bodies grow sporadically or in groups, resembling a small bamboo hat before opening the umbrella, and after opening the umbrella, they form a white umbrella. The stem has toughness, tears open the filamentous texture, and has a sweet aroma when smelled. The form of this mushroom is recorded in the "Book of Qian", which states: "Chicken and fir trees... grow in the Asakusa in autumn and July, and when they first bloom, they become like bamboo hats, gradually becoming like lids. In addition, the "Compendium of Materia Medica" also records that "Chicken Fir fungus originated in Yunnan, grows in sandy areas, and has a high footed umbrella head.

(Source: Sichuan Edible Fungi Association)