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How to Store a Mushroom Spore Syringe

Mushroom spores are a fascinating and useful tool for researchers and enthusiasts alike. However, proper storage is critical if you want to ensure their viability for future use. In this article, we will explore the best methods for storing mushroom spore syringes to ensure their longevity and effectiveness.

When purchasing mushroom spore syringes, it’s crucial to understand how to store them properly. If stored correctly in a cool, dark place such as a refrigerator, syringes containing a sterilized spore/water solution can be used for microscopy indefinitely and for cultivation for prolonged periods (years). Liquid culture syringes should also be refrigerated until use.

To preserve the viability of mushroom spores for future use, it’s essential to store them correctly. Researchers and enthusiasts can follow these simple steps to store spore syringes effectively:

  1. Sterilize the syringe with an alcohol wipe after use.
  2. Secure the protective cap to prevent the solution from leaking.
  3. Place the syringe in a sterilized sealable plastic bag, with most air removed upon sealing.
  4. Store the mushroom spore syringe in a refrigerator, where it won’t be disturbed.
  5. Label the syringes and bags to prevent mixing up samples.

Proper labeling of syringes and bags is a helpful tip to prevent mixing up samples, especially for microscopy research. It’s crucial to avoid exposing spores to light and maintain a constant temperature for extending their shelf life.

Freezing spores is not advisable as ice crystals form, disrupting the structure of the spores. Although some strains of fungi can survive this method, it’s not recommended. Most mushroom spore syringes as well as liquid cultures and agar will be destroyed if stored in the freezer.

So, how long do mushroom spore syringes last? The shelf life of spore syringes depends on several factors, including temperature, container quality, and storage conditions. Spores in a laboratory-grade syringe left out at room temperature can last up to 30 days. However, if you want to extend their shelf life, it’s best to store them in a cold, dark place, like a refrigerator. When properly stored, syringes filled with mushroom spores can last between four and twelve months, with some strains remaining viable for even longer.

At the end of the day, mushroom spores are a valuable resource for researchers and enthusiasts. Proper storage of mushroom spore syringes is essential for maintaining their longevity and effectiveness. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can ensure your mushroom spores are stored correctly and ready for future use.

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All about The B+ Mushroom

Have you heard of the B+ mushroom? No, that’s not a letter grade — for those of you whose interests have been drawn to the wide world of Psilocybe cubensis spores in recent years, the B+ mushroom name may not carry the same weight for you as it has for those whose tenure extends back to the vegetative stage of internet mushroom discussion.

               All the way back in 1999, in the (relatively) early days of the internet, a user on the Shroomery forum by the name of “Mr. G” was a regular contributor and the proprietor of a spore vendor known as Foggy Mountain Farms (fmfarms.com – now defunct, with the name belonging to a quaint livestock farm in Virginia). Mr. G’s last post on the forum was in 2002, and his account has since been banned; his posts on the forum contain some colourful language, with his last post on the contentious subject of the B+ mushroom ending in 206 (!) exclamation points. According to the now ancient mythology of B+ shrooms, Mr. G was the originator of this ‘strain’ and claimed that it was a cross between a Psilocybe cubensis and Psilocybe azurescens. This claim has been widely disputed and/or debunked, evidently much to Mr. G’s chagrin. But why is this such a radical claim on his part? Why is it impossible (?) for the B+ mushroom to have been a cross between a cube and an azure?

               This subject takes us into an area of mycology and mushroom discussion which has thrived amongst some communities and waned almost completely in others, although it is a very interesting subject. (Much of this information is courtesy of the extensive knowledge compiled by Shroomery user Rose.)

Some basic biology to start with: the names “Psilocybe cubensis” and “Psilocybe azurescens” are examples of binomial nomenclature (a “two-name naming system”). Each of these names represent both a genus (Psilocybe) and species (cubensis, azurescens, mexicana, etc.). Think of it like a family tree; Psilocybe cubensis is a member of the genus Psilocybe, while Psilocybe is a member of the family Hymenogastraceae; Hymenogastraceae a member of the order Agaricales, and so on. (The classification of “fungi” is all the way up at kingdom! That tells you how enormous the world of mycology really is.)

[image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Biological_classification_L_Pengo_vflip.svg]

               Below all of these levels of classification, we find the home of the B+ mushroom: the ‘strain’ (or, as Rose terms it, ‘race’ or ‘variety’) of B+ shrooms are one of many variations of the species Psilocybe cubensis. But, just like with humans, races can and do mix, and each person (like each mushroom) has a unique genetic code (like a unique spore print) — although the infinite variation of genetics is a spectrum, we see somewhat distinct characteristics amongst ethnic groups, just like we see in the variations of Psilocybe cubensis. You could call B+ mushrooms (or Golden Teacher mushrooms, or Penis Envy mushrooms, or Blue Meanies… you get the idea) a distinct ethnic group of the species Psilocybe cubensis.

               But, in the words of Rose, trying to combine two different species of Psilocybe, cubensis and azurescens, would be like “successfully mating a human with a gorilla.” We may share some important characteristics with our distant primate cousins, but the idea of producing (healthy) offspring from such a union… is a pretty far-fetched one (and I would hope no one would want to try…).

               So, while we can thank Mr. G for his contribution to the colourful spectrum of cubensis varieties (or strains — language changes, after all), we don’t necessarily have to believe everything he says. Who knows, maybe he has cooked up some mad scientist experiments that no one has seen the proof of yet… but I’ll wait until I see the spores under my microscope to believe it.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin_mushroom

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/7955887

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/7955834

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/66463#66463