Breeding cordyceps militaris: What is the best method to breed cordyceps? (Part 1) & beetle updates

In this video we describe and perform 3 different methodologies for isolating ascospores to breed cordyceps militaris. For more information check out our website freshfromthefar... to purchase our living mycelium cultures visit our ETSY shop FRESHFUNGI www.etsy.com/s... MUSHLOVE
Recommended Mushroom Growing Gear: www.amazon.com...

[@TheTheaterWiz]

Gary, you are one my favorite myco-tubers. You kill, dude. Always doing while others are blabbing. Keep up the good work and keep working on those pronunciations. Love you man.

[@trailtimestories9166]

Thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge and demonstrating in front of the camera your amazing techniques. We love your videos. Keep em coming...

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

thanks for watching! MUSHLOVE

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thanks for making time to answer us back on our questions Gary. I know it's tedious especially with everything else you have going on. But without your help many of us will stay stuck for months or even years trying to crack the code on our own.

[@97crab]

I'm loving every minute of this video.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Thanks for watching! MUSHLOVE

[@dvdrwsor]

First long mushroom video I didn't mind the length of. Thank you for sharing !!!

[@ankursingh7080]

Your doing great work. It is really helpful for new c.m. Grower. Very detailted informative videos. I really appreciate your work.

[@tylerhunter6458]

You Rock bro, I Learn so much from you, I wish I could work for you so I could learn everything.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Thanks for following along! We will be doing classes starting in January (1 online class per month) Stay tuned 🙂

[@stevencollaco6725]

Kindly keep us updated.

[@andrewdezwart880]

Hi Gary, Andrew from Australia loving all that you are doing. Love your content and your enthusiasm! Hope to get over there one day when the crazy times we are experiencing are finally over. I have a question that goes back to your cordyceps work regarding the microscope. You did explain to a comment that the eyepiece's were 10x and the objectives were 10x. The microscope looks like a stereo or dissecting microscope. 100x I have been told by many people is not strong enough and was wondering if you could confirm the specs even brand with the friend you borrowed it off. And thanks for the knowledge, I cant thank you enough!

[@natuvizion]

Did you find out the best magnification? I'm looking to acquire one.

[@soccer2themax]

How is this project going! Have you successfully gotten the mycelium to eat the japanese beetles? This is so amazing I am on the edge of my seat. I love the experimentation.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

We have isolated the strain on agar and I plan to drench the bases of my rose bushes in spring with a slurry of mycelium so that it might attack the beetle grubs before they become a problem this summer 🤞

[@DH-ls9qv]

Hey, thanks for your work! Can you intra-breed one cordyceps strain forever to fight senescence or will there be the need to cross it with another strain at some point? Thanks!

[@treehouseconstituents6402]

Hey Gary, hows it going bro. Buy organic cricket powder and add it to rice. Youll notice a huge uptake in potency and growth.

[@godseeker1168]

Because I don't know I'm just trying to think dang I'm I'm just puzzled here I am really really going to be studying this for you and see if I can help that would that would really make me happy if I could further your adventure

[@Highlightedpet]

I still use an open flame. I once sprayed my hands then my scalpel and then I accidently lit my hands on fire. I qouckly removed my gloves and that was it. Just minor burn. Now I have a fire extiunguiser and I always wait to let the alcohol I use evoprae in time. In the future I will get one of those infrared heaters

[@MicahYaple]

Nice job man! I was looking forward to seeing this. Do you know what your source genetics are?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

My friend Zach from Mushroom Cult Pro gave us the original culture from there I am not sure

[@arupdutta7631]

Amazing information 👍

[@codyprice6188]

I got a lc syringe of your militaris and am so nervous about it. Excited! But nervous lol. 🍄❤️ Gary

[@dr.arifmahmud1715]

Hi Gary, Thanks for your very nice video. Enjoying your breeding technics. Go ahead. How can I get your culture? I am from Dhaka, Bangladesh.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

etsy.com/shop/freshfungi

[@kumhoshin8736]

I always thank you for your presentation. I have a question, after making cordyceps liquid culture, how long can I keep it?

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

I too have had small fires 🔥 using open flame in mycology work. Can you say more about those sterilization pouches? What are they, where do they come from and how to use them? Thx

[@flaparoundfpv8632]

Thanks man. How long can you keep a tube of spore water? Do the ascospores germinate in there if you keep it cold?

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

Instead of The Mad Scientist we have The Glad Scientist 😊 ❤ Gary

[@probiogr3863]

Very informative content ,thank you

[@hkmakeupartistry9487]

Thank you for your tutorial! I've had my cloned culture in jars at room temp for over a year, is that too long to keep it and use it?

[@doggodoggo3000]

i saved a really large carolina wolf spider in my house one winter. It was too big to leave it be and too cold outside to throw it out there and exprect it to live. So I prepared a habitat for it to live out the rest of its life. it always was under a hide i placed in there but one day it climbed on top and was reaching for the sky with its front legs. it died like that and it started growing a fungus. it reminds me of the old stories about ants that wouild get infected and climb trees. but this is much bigger than an ant. hogna carolinensis is a pretty big spider. i joke i had a pet zombie spider for a while.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

hahh awesome! This may very well be 🍄❤️

[@leprechaunjax]

I just stumbled across your video and it's great. Do you have a video where you went over/tried breeding cordyceps with the liquid culture method? I have live culture but would like to be able to get my own future spores to germinate properly and I know you mentioned it quick

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes check out our hyperbreeding video it walks through that

[@godseeker1168]

When they were alive they would either secret off of their pads their feet or somewhere on the front of their face and if you dipped their feet in their face in peptone and maybe a little bit of Honey first and then pointed it said it right up against the cordyceps just out of curiosity see what happened

[@adamripplinger6035]

Is it just me or does an overhead air flow sound like a bad idea for contamination (coming off the arms etc)

[@ZeginMakesMusic]

Is it possible to manufacture some sort of pest control application with the cordyceps spores or culture?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes I believe so - in my experience the cultures usually die off quite rapidly which is a challenge to overcome

[@flaparoundfpv8632]

Hey dude! I was wondering if I could ask you something. Can you mate ascospores from the same production strain? Is there much genetic diversity if I do that? Or will I get basically the same traits back? Can you keep doing it?

[@fredericlebel6788]

Youre great, man!

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

I think I just found the answer to my question at 26 minutes and 41 seconds into the video. I've been struggling to understand the exact process needed to create a brand new strain. If I have heard correctly this is done by first isolating selected ascospores, allowing those to grow out, then attempting to pair them with another selected ascospore? And that's how you create a new Fresh cordyceps strain? Thank you so much

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes that is the gist of it!

[@godseeker1168]

It's possible even that some Beatles From what I understand from what I've read they even have this secretion under their wings and they'll flap their wings do sit there and flap their wings and throw that secretion onto the cordyceps

[@martstoffele9692]

Thank you so much for your work. I have a simple question. The bins you grow your CS in. Where can I get them. Do you have a name for them ?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

they are called “shoe boxes” at walmart

[@mohammednazemuddinsiddiqui1071]

An informative video thanks

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

thanks for watching!

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

I'm sorry but I'm trying to understand the need for isolating specific ascospores. Do you then have to find two that will pair in order to make a new strain? Is breeding cordyceps the same as with other mushrooms or no? Some of my questions probably sound extremely infantile to you. But it's a lot to take in when I'm still unfamiliar with the terminology. So I appreciate your patience and your thorough explanations.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

no worries yes cordyceps is special circumstance because the strains usually degrade quickly. It’s important to isolate single ascospores because then you can keep those haploids that are stronger than most others and cross them later on thus stretching the life of the mushroom and guaranteeing more success then randomly breeding spores. Other mushrooms are very similar but there are many ways to do this - this is just one method. I will be doing more videos again soon so I don’t mind questions 🙂

[@anthonyhill2455]

Hi Gary, loving these videos - thanks for sharing them. Forgive me if this is a dumb question. Why are you going to the bother of using water agar, a microscope and picking up the ascospores so early ? Why not let the colonies grow a bit on traditional agar first, then just pick them out by eye ? Also how did the streaking method turn out ?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Hey thanks for watching! The reason I used water agar/microscope technique is because traditional agar costs more, induces growth of contaminants even during early stages and causes ascospores to germinate quickly which can lead to early mating (usually do this overnight but sped up the procedure for the video). It can definitely be done on traditional agar - I have done this in the past with success using serial dilutions with a plate spreader. Check out the followup video on the streak plates there are about 12 clean colonies now Ill do a followup on those soon as well as a liquid culture spore slurry. The purpose of this video is to prove there is more than one way to breed cordyceps! I appreciate the questions they generate more thinking : ) MUSHLOVE

[@Rerum_Novarum]

What's the benefit of isolating a single ascospore as opposed to multiple from the same fruiting body?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

you can go back and mate them once the traits or characteristics are grown out. More control of phenotype selection

[@stephenfriesen7636]

What size inoculation loop you use? Is 3mm kinda the standard? Is 2mm too small amount of liquid dispensed..?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

I don’t use a calibrated loop or if I do I usually use 1mL but I think all of them would work you just need to adjust for volume (streaking less with more volume if the concentration is more etc.). you will find your sweet spot

[@amintaleghani2110]

thanks for the video. Could you pls give the spec of your microscope ?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

It's my friend's microscope so I don't know the make and model but it is 100x magnification in the video (10x lens, 10x oculars) A large majority of microscopes will work for this as long as you have the proper lighting and field of view - MUSHLOVE

[@sivabalan1370]

hello sir, I have a doubt. Why no serial dilution technique used for cordyceps. Which technique for isolation of cordyceps spores is best according to your experience !

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Serial dilution was not necessary because the spores were collected from a sterile mushroom collected in vitro. So far the best strain was from the streak plate. I like the serial dilution though it separates spores out more thoroughly

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

Hey Gary can tempature fluctuations in my lab cause white fuzz to appear on the tips? The fruits are between 35 and 50 days old. Every thing was looking as expected. Until today when I'm seeing white puffy fuzz on most jars. What gives? All I can think of is I noticed the lab got really cold one night and too warm over 75 temporarily the next day. Now this

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

possibly - but sometimes there is a contaminant

[@Algumnomequalquer]

I have a doubt, first thank you for you amazing video. Which laninar flow is better vertical or horizontal ? Thanks

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

they both have pros and cons watch this! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGbPZqyEeN2meNU

[@Algumnomequalquer]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thank you so much

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but, could I take Asko scores from tall skinny cordyceps and try to pair them with short really thick cordyceps and possibly get some tall thick ones as a result? Thank you

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes it is possible - it is somewhat of a lottery though so do many crosses and you will get more variance

[@stefandomagalski6873]

Have you tried drying the beetles, grinding them into powder and then adding the beetle powder to your agar? I'm gonna try it

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

I have not but that’s a great idea 👍

[@jamesJohnson-qe4gw]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi hey just found the channel super cool!!.. Did you know amazon sells cricket powder.. Its even food grade............

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

I tried giving my Cords a moth but only got contams :(( next I'm trying using dried silkworm pupae into the nutrient broth. Wish me luck

[@akai5819]

What is he using for making the Cordyceps militaris stick to the upper part of the petri dish? Thanks!

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

it is vaseline amzn.to/3ZQ7jNP

[@akai5819]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thanks alot! :-)

[@FunkyGreen]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungihow long were you keeping them above the Petri dishes to deposit spores

[@CMZneu]

Great video! Makes sense for cordyceps to senesce early since they just need to live long enough to fruit on their host, but what's the point of the beatles? is it just an experiment to see if they get colonised? btw i can only speak for myself but i couldn't see the spores in the microscope footage or didn't know what to look for.

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Yes it’s an ongoing experiment the beetle mycelium hasnt fruited but appeared on a number of them in my garden and I found dead beetles throughout the season colonized but no fruits. I am going to hunt around this summer to see if I can find fruits or maybe it’s another entomopathogenic fungi I have not confirmed with DNA tests but either way if the beetles are being controlled by nature or from spores from the lab it’s exciting to me! The spores under the scope look like hashes because they are ascospores as opposed to basidiospores which are round or teardrop shaped.

[@CMZneu]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi Ohhh now i see them!, they look like small fiberglass strands, i first i just thought those were scratches on the glass or something. In nature do ascospores mate inside the insect meaning at least 2 spores need to infect the same bug?

[@godseeker1168]

If you get that to work and you ever need an employee my gosh give me a holler cuz I am doing nothing I have nothing to do all my kids are grown up with grandkids and I'm bored as hell

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

How do those sterilization packets work? Are they reusable? Plz explain. Thx

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

they are one time use and have an indicator that turns color when it’s sterilized. It protects the tool so you can store a bunch on the shelf ready to go 👍

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thx Gary, you've quickly become my go-to guy for a most complete explanation 👍much appreciated! #MushroomFantasies

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

I'm trying to understand the difference between creating new strains of Cordyceps vs simple cloning. Plz bare with me. Am I correct to say cloning is to make a copy of genetics? And mating creates a brand new strain? I also don't completely understand the mating process of finding compatible pairs. Thank you so much!

[@adamripplinger6035]

Great and unique techniques but man I feel like there’s quite a few times where you contaminate stuff through the video lol (I’ve never done sterile work tho lol so idk Ig)

[@lisemariecaron4366]

Please , you MEA agar, do you know if its lightmat extract or darker malt extract ? Thanks

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

We use the hardy diagnostics quick dissolve formula MEA - have tried many other brands in the past but this one seems to have the cleanest plates as far as sediment goes MUSHLOVE

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

How long does it take for cordyceps militaris to pin? I'm running my first set ever I started them on April 7th today is May 23 astonishment I have some little orange and white pins

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

it’s about a 6 week process but can take longer or shorter depending on temperatures, lighting, innoculation rates, nutrients etc.

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thanks man. Can u plz tell me lighting details? I know most things colonize in the dark. Then light is used to help initiate pins. But, do I put them in ambient light or something different? Also how much light per day?

[@godseeker1168]

I think you're going to need a live beetle 4- it's blood or liquid matter that's alive

[@godseeker1168]

Hey good morning Gary Hey I got a suggestion I've been thinking about how those two can run into each other and my suggestion is the Beatles all have a certain fronter cure on their face okay Jake come Street a liquid to break down something before they finished their bite and I'm just curious if you were to just dip the head in a solution of peptone it doesn't even have to be a solution just get the head wet with a tiny bit of water honey and then dip the head just to head into some peptight some biological peptight oks and then touch its head to the cordyceps I know that the Beatles not live anymore but just like humans hair it doesn't degrade when they die it just stays as is and I'm just thinking

[@godseeker1168]

😢I meant that when the Beatles were alive they secrete something off the front of their face onto what they're going to eat and it starts a chain reaction and I'm just wondering if the beetle may have to be alive although trying it dead without damaging the front or part of their face may work and I don't know how you would do it but just dip their head into some kind of a solution with peptone in it before you did it

[@zacharyswain7034]

Why no video on actually cultivating the cordyceps like you did in the tub there?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

I went through a lot of failures to get that tub so it wasn’t worth my time - that being said I may revisit that method in the future and will do a video on it 👍❤️🍄

[@imranakter8837]

Sir in my country cordiceps is not available.so how can I start cultivating cordiceps militaries

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

try ordering cultures from kaizen cordyceps they are in the UK and ship internationally

[@momsmushroomsjodyfoster5786]

Another question if I may, regarding liquid culture, did I hear you say you will be dropping selected ascospores into the liquid, and allowing them to find each other in order to pair up? Thanks Gary,... it's kind of like a giant blind date scenario. Where you bring a bunch of strangers into a room and watch as they mingle and make a decision about each other? #mushroomfantasies

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

yes hah exactly! It is higher risk because liquid cultures tend to get contaminated easy but if it is successful it usually selects for more rigorous varieties

[@mr.giggles4995]

I see you are cloning Cheetos. Is this the Flaming Hot strain?

[@vaginaface8305]

Can i grow cordyceps using popcorn and coco coir?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

Im not sure - worth testing out though

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

I thought this kind of cordyceps doesn't grow on insects, wouldn't that account for the lack of growth on the beetle?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

It does grow on insects. the origin was from a wasp

[@BaltimoresBerzerker]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi oh, huh, thanks for the reply and information! In that case, I can only think that maybe letting the peroxide air off for a little might help?? Good luck dude!!

[@MrSeadawg123]

Best books for what your doing?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

William Padilla-Brown has a great book on Cordyceps (mycosymbiotics) there are also a few groups on facebook that have some good info but for the most part this is experimental and I am learning as I go as well 😎 MUSHLOVE

[@lisemariecaron4366]

From agar to agar , which malt extract prefers codryceps militaris to grow on ? Thanks

[@jeremylastname873]

Have you considered adding gelatin to the agar instead of using actual insects? Inquiring minds want to know. 😎

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

no but it’s a good idea

[@kimberlybenton4246]

What kind of agar are you using?

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

MEA, PDA and Water Agar for this

[@kimberlybenton4246]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi thank you, much, coffee and Stamets this a.m. I'm obsessed now. Will look you up on Etsy! Mush love

[@dieulechineitsang835]

Hi, thank you for the video. We grow organic cordyceps militaris in Vietnam. We would love to connect with you. Would you be interested?

[@godseeker1168]

Gary I'm starting to think that maybe that's not going to work unless the Beatles alive I'm sorry

[@blossomculture3304]

Hi ,myself Praveen from bangalore india, I also grow Cordyceps and can you please suggest me a buyer as we have trouble here in india.

[@thangavelganesh5294]

Hello Praveen...

[@hotforhaha1]

AlohaMedicinals

[@shivratan5336]

Kya rate

[@rinkimiss9619]

Contact 07488264930 This number to buy cordyseps

[@andrewmodell5889]

Dude so your useing the word wrong it's a color ...blue ...refers to blueing

[@mushroom7314]

last of us

[@bactuan1805]

What is the material used to glue the mycelium on the plate please?

[@tanujagarwal94]

Your petroleum jelly got contaminated

[@Jen-br5hx]

how are you filming this hahahaha, are you holding the camera in your mouth? HAH!

[@FreshfromtheFarmFungi]

it’s on a chestie 😎

[@Jen-br5hx]

@@FreshfromtheFarmFungi it's super dynamic brother.

[@ankursingh7080]

Your doing great work. It is really helpful for new c.m. Grower. Very detailted informative videos. I really appreciate your work.