—Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, February 24,1979 50 New mushroom strains are rated superior UNIVERSITY PARK - New achievements in mushroom research - sup porting a Pennsylvania crop valued at $160,000,000 an nually - were reported recently fay scientists of the Agricultural Experiment Station at The Pennsylvania State University. Current research has developed nine improved strains of the cultivated brown mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). The new strains are rated superior to the best two commercial strains of brown mushrooms, according to Dr. Daniel J. Royse, assistant professor of plant pathology. The results come from long-term experiments which have contributed to increased yields by Penn sylvania growers producing 57 per cent of the nation’s mushroom crop. “Best estimates indicate a 15 per cent yield increase,” Dr. Royse claimed. “This has already resulted in ex panded commercial production of about 3 million pounds” which would “have a wholesale value of $2,000,000,” he affirmed. In production tests of 16 off-white strains, three have emerged as superior to presently used commercial GRUMMEILI’S FARM SERVICE Mechanics Grove Quarryville, PA Ph.(717)786-7318 PIKEVILLE EQUIPMENT INC. RD2 Oley, PA Ph (215)987-6277 ALLEN ZEJGLER RR 1 Lehlghton. PA 18235 Phone- (717) 386-4593 strains and are now available to the mushroom industry, he said. In addition to total yield, valuable data was taken on earliness of growth, pattern of yield, average size, and surface features such as scales on the cap. Off-white mushrooms are larger and have a better shelf life on the fresh market than white strains, he indicated. Two major ac complishments ,on main tenance of mushroom cultures evolved from this project, Dr. Royse said. First, Penn Staters found that stock cultures of commercial mushrooms can be frozen in liquid nitrogen and remain stable for at least five years-compared to the same culture main tained by transferring plugs of fungus tissues to fresh culture medium every 60 days. “This could result in substantial saving of labor and materials wMe helping to assure the stablility of valuable stock cultures used by the mushrom spawn making industry of Penn sylvania,” he stated. In the second develop ment, four mushroom strains-developed at Penn State and used widely in the mdustry-were found to lose 2 per cent less weight after the people that care ... about your farm, your business and youl COY 0. CHRISTMAN RDI. Box 119 Hamburg, PA Ph (215)562-7218 488-1904 CECIL DAIRY SERVICE SHOW-EASE STALL CO. RDI Rt 274 Vi Mi South Rising Sun, MD Ph (301)658-6923 McMILLEN BROS. RDI Loysville, PA Ph (717)789-3961 processing than present commercial varieties. Since about 60 per cent of the U. S. mushrom crop is processed, reduction of shrinkage through genetic selection can be very beneficial, it was noted. In fact, said Dr. Royse, use of Penn State’s genetic selection for Pennsylvania’s 220,000,000 pound annual mushroom crop could mean a saving of nearly 2,640,000 pounds annually. As part of the project, nearly 1,500 different mushroom strains and microorganisms associated with a mushroom crop are maintained on agar or grain media with regular tissue transfer every 60 days. This collection is the best of its kind in the country, and perhaps in the world, Dr. Royse claimed. More than 3300 culture tubes were provided over the past four years to commercial and research laboratories in response to specific requests. These stock cultures form the basis for more than half of all mushrooms produced commercially in the United States and Canada, it was reported, as well as sub stantial quantities in a dozer other countries. 523 Wi'lowßd Lancaster. PA Ph (717)299-2536 HUTTON FARM EQUIPMENT Mahafley, PA 15757 Ph. 814-277-5504 with big cuppM hopper flow le hay 2 sizes HEISEY FARM EQUIPMENT INC. RDI Jonestown, PA Ph. (717)865-4526 LLOYD LKREIDER £DI Cochranville, PA Ph.(215)932-4700 IF IT'S HUNTER... s HUN I HEAVY DUTY GALVAMZED BUCKET ELEVATORS CAPACITIES FROM 500 BU. PER HR. TO 25,000 BU. PER HR. AND UP TO I*o FT. DISCHARGE HEIGHT AT DISCOUNT PRICES' DISCOUNT PRICES ARE , ONLY GOOD TILL , FEB. 28,1978 ORDER NOW ORDERS MUST BE IN OFFICE BY FEB. 26,1979. W- " V ' < 5 I jj *• «•* I * '/ I -/ . t , / f / ' ' / / f / y f * t &C JS * * % M ■ | - ! Jl: '""' * ■-.■*» ««a**»aKr.~fe, \~wm 4 I ? Financing arranged through ASCS, Production Credit, leasing companies or your local bank Call or write for quotation on complete gram handling, drying and storage system, feed grinding, mixing and processing systems, bulk tank metering, weighing and handling Equipment ★ Top Pa. Distributor for 1977 & 78 awarded by G.S.I. MARTIN DISTRIBUTORS, INC. Rl. LEBANON, PA. 17042 PHONE: 717-866-4906 or 866-4555 EXAMPLE: 1600 Bu./Hr. 45 Ft. High Discharge o *V< 5 2446“. SAME DISCOUNT ON ALL SIZES }■ ' S'. * t a t Jw» ■•«•'/-■ * IT'S A HONEY! INCLUDES • HEAD SECTION - 14 ga. galv. steel buck bolted, NO WELDING, large crowned pulley, commercial pillow block and stress shaft, 3 inspection doors, complete- ly dust and weather tight. • LEGGING -14 ga. exclusive beading process for ulti mate strength, dual type trunking, jigged for perfect alignment. • BELTING - Exclusive Hunter orange PVC non-stretch, static and fire resistant. • HONEY BUCKETS - Exclus ive orange, static resistant, plastic buckets with special bolts and nuts. • BOOT - 10 ga. galv. steel buck bolted for double strength, large pulley w I oversized shaft and comm ercial take-up bearings, hopper, 2 inspection doors. • SPEED REDUCER DRIVE - Gears and roller bearings run in oil; belts, pulleys, motor mount, belt tightner. • ELECTRIC MOTOR - Total enclosed ball bearing, capa citor start.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers