Thanks for your concern, however, i tend to be a member of the other camp in this matter. Having traveled extensively in the U.S. solely to harvest these beauties, and being a voracious reader, all the evidence has convinced me that there is little effect on the mycelium either way.
Morels are opportunistic saprophytes, which means that they colonize debris rapidly, and thus are more annual than a perennial by nature. If you'd like to debate this idea in more detail, please feel free to comment further or email me at chickenofthewoods at yahoo dot com. Can't wait for them to start! Cheers...
I think its more accurate to call them facultatively mycorrhizal. Most black species are mycorrhizal fungi, having fir and various pine species as the host.
That being said, there is a possible benefit to "pulling" because you are leaving no mushroom tissue in the ground to rot next to the mycelium.
Hmmm. Glad we're in the same camp, but could you explain what you mean by saying that Morchella are facultatively mycorrhizal? I thought this was a term that applied to plants. Is there anywhere you can reference with data on Morchella and mycorrhizae? Would love to read more.... thanks for your comment.
Some Morchella can be either mycorrhizal or saprophytic depending on the environment. The paper I read was written by profs at OSU if I remember right. I can't get you the link because I'm not in school where I have free access to the database.
This doesn't occur with all species, and I want to say that natural black are strictly mycorrhizal, but some yellows aren't. This makes sense because we always find the natural blacks in the woods and yellows can be found in fields.
That's so weird to me. I harvest silly amounts of morels every year, and the blacks are often found in mulch beds with no plants to associate with... but yellows in fields? That's hot shit. Is this in michigan? How near are the nearest trees?
I just read a bunch of abstracts about the ability of Morchella to form mycorrhizae with Abies, Larix, Picea and Pinus. Awesome.
Morchella is a weird genus, landscaping morels are their own thing and I dont know much about them. My relatives in the midwest have found yellows in fields beyond the reach of the trees roots. For having such a wide range of habitats you would think most people would be able to find them...
By not using a knife to harvest mushrooms it will kill the patch.I never pull the roots out to insure the mushrooms will grow next seasson.
dalemothershead 4 years ago
Hi Dale!
Thanks for your concern, however, i tend to be a member of the other camp in this matter. Having traveled extensively in the U.S. solely to harvest these beauties, and being a voracious reader, all the evidence has convinced me that there is little effect on the mycelium either way.
chickenofthewoods 4 years ago
Morels are opportunistic saprophytes, which means that they colonize debris rapidly, and thus are more annual than a perennial by nature. If you'd like to debate this idea in more detail, please feel free to comment further or email me at chickenofthewoods at yahoo dot com. Can't wait for them to start! Cheers...
chickenofthewoods 4 years ago
I think its more accurate to call them facultatively mycorrhizal. Most black species are mycorrhizal fungi, having fir and various pine species as the host.
That being said, there is a possible benefit to "pulling" because you are leaving no mushroom tissue in the ground to rot next to the mycelium.
I am in the pulling camp as well.
VikingStreaker 2 years ago
Hmmm. Glad we're in the same camp, but could you explain what you mean by saying that Morchella are facultatively mycorrhizal? I thought this was a term that applied to plants. Is there anywhere you can reference with data on Morchella and mycorrhizae? Would love to read more.... thanks for your comment.
chickenofthewoods 2 years ago
Some Morchella can be either mycorrhizal or saprophytic depending on the environment. The paper I read was written by profs at OSU if I remember right. I can't get you the link because I'm not in school where I have free access to the database.
This doesn't occur with all species, and I want to say that natural black are strictly mycorrhizal, but some yellows aren't. This makes sense because we always find the natural blacks in the woods and yellows can be found in fields.
VikingStreaker 2 years ago
That's so weird to me. I harvest silly amounts of morels every year, and the blacks are often found in mulch beds with no plants to associate with... but yellows in fields? That's hot shit. Is this in michigan? How near are the nearest trees?
I just read a bunch of abstracts about the ability of Morchella to form mycorrhizae with Abies, Larix, Picea and Pinus. Awesome.
chickenofthewoods 2 years ago
Morchella is a weird genus, landscaping morels are their own thing and I dont know much about them. My relatives in the midwest have found yellows in fields beyond the reach of the trees roots. For having such a wide range of habitats you would think most people would be able to find them...
VikingStreaker 2 years ago
shhhhhhhh dont tell any one!!!
simplename1 4 years ago
Oh, the Cascades... in the East.
xazuross 4 years ago
I never knew there were Morels in the Pacific North West!
xazuross 4 years ago