Use of non-native invasive tree logs for commercial

mushroom production on small farms

OS14-086
Project Type:
On Farm Research/Partnership Project
Projected End Date: 2017
Funds Awarded: $14,984
Region: Southern
State: Florida
Coordinators:
Stephen Hight
Email
850-656-9870(Office)
USDA-ARS
6383 Mahan Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Participants:
Katie Harris
Farm Manager
Annette Layton
Co-Owner
Dr. Jennifer Taylor
Director, FAMU StateWide Small Farms Program
Florida A&M University

Project Narrative

Summary/Abstract
Non-native trees are common in the rural landscape, often planted for shade or as ornamentals. However, by
their very nature as non-native introductions, they arrive without natural enemies to keep their populations in
check and many species can spread from a few scattered trees to dense stands if not managed. In Florida,
almost one-third of the plants growing wild in Florida are non-native and some of these have become serious
problems.

Removal of invasive species, especially trees, is often time consuming and expensive. For example, from
1998-2004, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spent almost $0.75 million treating
Chinese tallow on 4,000 acres of natural areas in north and central Florida. Even for a private landowner or
small farmer, the cost of cutting down invasive trees and removing the waste generated by branches and trunks
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consumes resources in time, effort, personnel, and finances; negatively impacting farm sustainability. To help
offset some of these expenditures for small farmers, we propose to evaluate the potential of using non-native
tree logs, common to the southern region, to produce edible and marketable mushrooms; turning unsustainable
non-native tree species into a sustainable, small farm commodity.

Three invasive species are targeted in this study. Two species are Category I Florida invasives (tallow is also
classified as a state noxious weed), and the other species is a Category II Florida invasive and has poisonous
fruits if ingested by humans.

Chinese tallowtree (Triadica sebifera) Tallow was introduced into Georgia in the late 1700s and is now
invasive throughout the southeastern US where it forms dense stands in mesic prairies, and floodplain forests.
It is listed as a Category I most invasive plant species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Chinese
tallow is considered a Noxious Weed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), meaning propagation, commerce, and transport is prohibited.

Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) Introduced from China to US in 1745 and Florida in 1883, mimosa is
widely cultivated as an ornamental. However, due to its tendency to readily establish in a variety of habitats
after escaping from cultivation, mimosa is considered a Category I most invasive plant species by the
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Restrictions on planting exist in Okaloosa and Seminole counties in Florida.

Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) Chinaberry was released in the early 1800s as an ornamental, planted in
many southern states, and now occurs north to Virginia and west to Oklahoma. Chinaberry occurs primarily in
disturbed areas (right-of-ways and fencerows), but also invades floodplain hammocks, marshes, and upland
woods, and is listed as a Florida Category II invasive that has increased in abundance but not yet altered
Florida plant communities. Fruits are highly poisonous if ingested by humans, but birds readily spread the
seeds without harm.

Objectives/Performance Targets
Cultivation of gourmet edible and medicinal mushrooms has gained popularity throughout the southeastern
US. Many small farmers have begun cultivating mushrooms using logs from native tree species as a substrate
for mushroom mycelium. These mushrooms are often sold at farmers markets, through CSAs, and directly to
restaurants which promote the use of locally grown fresh produce. Many of these restaurants are identified as
gourmet establishments and pay high prices for quality fresh ingredients. In addition to direct marketing of
edible mushrooms, a web search revealed more than 25 companies marketing fungal spawn to small growers
in the US.

While much is known about cultivating mushrooms on native trees, little is known about the possibility of
cultivating mushrooms on logs of invasive trees. A previous SARE grant in Ohio determined that standing
wood from the invasive tree-of-heaven tree (Ailanthus altissima) supported mycelia growth of oyster
mushrooms (Pluerotus ostreatus) and chicken-of-the-woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). Trees were girdled,
inoculated in place, and mushrooms harvested for sale at a local farm. This project demonstrated that
mushrooms could be grown on an unconventional log substrate, an invasive tree species, resulting in financial
return, sustainable benefits, and management of a non-native invasive species. Such an outcome may increase
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motivation for land managers, homeowners, and small farmers to reduce invasive species by cutting down
non-native trees on their land for mushroom cultivation. Furthermore, if edible fungi perform well on nonnative species, it may convince mushroom cultivators to utilize wood from invasive trees that would otherwise
be discarded, thus making efficient use of an on-farm resource.

In February 2014, a pilot study was initiated to evaluate the ability of two common fungi species to
successfully inoculate logs from three invasive tree species and produce edible mushrooms. We were also
interested in comparing the mushroom production on the non-native species against a native tree species
commonly used by small farm shiitake cultivators in north Florida. The two common fungi species used for
mushroom cultivation were golden oyster (Pleurotus cornucopiae) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes). The three
non-native tree species were paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Chinese tallow (T. sebifera), and acacia
(Acacia auriculiformis). The native (control) species was water oak (Quecus nigra). Mycelial growth was
recorded on all four species of trees during the summer 2014. At the current time (November 2014) mushroom
fruiting has been initiated and small harvests of shiitake have been gathered from oak and tallow. Normal
mushroom production on outdoor logs involves cutting trees and inoculating logs before leaf break, mycelial
growth during the summer, and mushroom fruiting initiated with cool fall nights and continuing into spring.

Since favorable outcomes were obtained with mycelial growth in all tree species and initial mushroom
production in tallow was comparable to oak, we propose to expand the study with small farmers in the north
Florida and southern Georgia area. We will measure not only the capability for non-native trees to produce
edible mushrooms, but evaluate the marketability and economic return of this product for small farmers.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the
author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.
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recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of
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