King Oyster Mushroom

King Oyster Mushroom

　　The scientific name of the king oyster mushroom is: Pleurotus eryngii (DC.ex.Fr.) Quel. Also known as king trumpet mushroom. It belongs to the Fungi kingdom, Basidiomycota phylum, Agaricales order, Pleurotaceae family, and Pleurotus genus. The king oyster mushroom has thick, fleshy caps and a tender, crisp texture. Especially notable is the stem, which is dense, firm, and milky white, and can be eaten entirely. The stem is even more crisp and smooth than the cap, earning it the nicknames "king of oyster mushrooms" and "scallop mushroom." It boasts a pleasant almond aroma and a texture reminiscent of abalone, making it ideal for preservation and processing. It is widely loved by people. The fruiting bodies of the king oyster mushroom grow singly or in clusters. The cap is 2–12 cm wide, initially arched, then gradually flattening out. When mature, the center becomes slightly concave to funnel-shaped, with a silky sheen on the surface that is smooth, dry, and finely fibrous. When young, the cap is grayish-black, turning light yellowish-white upon maturity, often with nearly radial dark brown fine stripes around the center. The cap edge is initially curled inward when young, becoming wavy or deeply split when mature. The flesh is white with an almond flavor and does not exude latex. The gills are decurrent, dense, slightly broad, milky white, with flat edges and sides, and small gill notches. The stem is 2–8 cm long and 0.5–3 cm thick, growing eccentrically or laterally. The king oyster mushroom is a medium-to-low temperature fruiting fungus. The optimal temperature range for fruiting body development is 10–15°C. In our county, cultivation typically begins at the end of November. Indoor bag cultivation on shelves is used. The main cultivation materials include cottonseed hulls and sawdust, with supplementary materials such as wheat bran, sugar, and calcium carbonate. The substrate-to-water ratio is 1:1.4–1.5. The king oyster mushroom is a rare mushroom variety developed in our county in recent years. In 2000, the county cultivated 20 million bags, yielding 1,000 tons. (Gutian County)