The Effect of Stage of Maturity at Picking on the Flushing of Crops of the Cultivated Mushroom

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Abstract
Trays were either not picked at all or picked at three widely differing stages of maturity. The number of sporophores of more than ½ in. diameter which appeared on each tray was recorded as well as the number picked each day. The numbers appearing and the numbers harvested were divided into flushes. The length of the appearance flushes was not influenced by the stage of picking, but the time taken to harvest each flush decreased with later stage of picking. The interval between flushes, both as regards appearance and harvest, increased as the stage of picking was delayed. With all picking treatments approximately 5% of the sporophores died between the stage at which their appearance was recorded and picking. A previous experiment showed that approximately 44% died if sporophores were recorded when they were first visible. Possible mechanisms that might underlie the effects on flushing are discussed.