Hey guys,
I started watching the deep dive on Di-mon. Super stoked y`all are tackling these more complex and fascinating topics and simplifying it just enough so more of us who haven't gone into the more advanced aspects can also get stoked about it.

I heard something in the beginning that I wasn't sure was correct, so I wanted to check, cause maybe my own understanding is off. 

Towards the beginning, Gregory said something along the lines of "If they like each other, they will become dikaryotic There will be plasmogamy, but won't be fusion of cytoplasm, just sharing of nucleus." Did he mean there won't be fusion of nucleus, just sharing of cytoplasm? My understanding was that with plasmogamy there is sharing of protoplast (cytoplasm and organelles) but not yet the fusion of nuclei, which happens during karyogamy. 

Does anyone have experience sending strains abroad (not through a company)? I feel like they are gonna get very suspicious at customs, since it is biological material, and they won't let it through. 
I want to send cultures to Portugal. My plan is to try both by mail and, if that fails, in my suitcase. The method I'm gonna try is 5 ml cryovials with agar plugs in distilled water, but if there is a better method to fly under the radar, I would like to know.
Anyone have specific tips or experience with this?
I appreciate it as always.

Does anyone have any guesses as to what is going on here and the cause? This is occurring on master's mix production blocks from the same cook/noc day with blue oyster spawn from two different dates. (the 3 other species noced aren't displaying this). So far, less than 10% of blocks are displaying this, but may find more.
This is our first run doing master's mix with fresh SD and soy hull pellets. 10-20% of the pellets did not break down completely, even after shaking. The blocks in the very back of the container are getting as hot (the front ones got to 203F inside the bag). My guess is that these blocks got an insufficient cooked and developed it sclerotia from stress from being exposed and battling off contaminants.

That mycelium feels EXTREMELY hard to the touch. And when I broke open the 5lb block, it seemed like it was quite hot, although that could be normal and I just might not have noticed the heat as much before. A lot of exudate coming out of those structures and strong sweet mycelial smell, maybe a little funky, but not too bad. 

Incubation temp ranged from 55-mid seventies.
Substrate ended up being too dry 58-60%
Here is a video: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1eUdRJL5jbZyPGCt7

Deriving from my last post about Stroma, there is a question that's been bugging me for a while: What is the ideal CO2 levels for a Spawn incubation room? And the questions behind it: what is the correlation/ differential between the CO2 concentration inside the bag compared to the room (has anyone tested this)? What are the thermodynamics going on between temperature and filter patch gas exchange.

And going off of that, how does humidity/temp/ FAE affect the moisture inside the bag. I often see the grain on the surface of my spawn drying (I'm assuming) because it doesn't get colonized.

If anyone has any resources to point me to, I'd graetly appreciate it.

STROMA? 

[Update: CO2 levels also increase from about 500 to 1300. Maybe that was a contributor? 

Is this stroma? Refer to the videos in this link please:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/wvx6XALc7bNxL6AaA

This is the first time this happened. I obviously let this spawn incubate for too long, as you can see from the mycelium growing up the walls of the bag, and the temperature went from constant 70F to 78 for at least probably a couple days towards the end. I only noticed this growth in 3 of 15 bags. What are the chances the others have it, but it is hidden? You're feedback will determine whether I will toss the rest of the lot or not. Thank you!

Alright, new equipment recommendation request. As we are scaling up spawn production here, we want to upgrade from the impulse sealer to a continuous band sealer to go on the table in front of the HEPA. 

We are looking at this cheap one:

https://m.vevor.com/sealing-machine-c_10462/automatic-continuous-band-sealer-vertical-bag-sealing-machine-stainless-steel-p_010685043733?adp=gmc&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=19406661104&utm_term=&gad_source=4&gclid=CjwKCAiA5L2tBhBTEiwAdSxJXwHhY5B2RBvsMVAdIfjGoxalvBFDFio2A0A1WQpfX1N-UfcBnDE5JBoCz6gQAvD_BwE

What's been y'all's experience with them?

 Any thoughts or othersmodels/brands  to recommend? 

Thanks 

Hey. What bag/ tray combination do you guys use for your cordyceps? Most importantly, what micron filter is it? Thanks.

Hey Y'all. Happy new year!
I thought I might share this article of a sweet initiative that is growing from the decomposition and repurposing (and reappropriation) a large agaricus farm, including training the majority immigrant workers from the old farm, to form a cooperative exotics farm owned by seven Mexican and Guatemalan immigrant families. It's cool to see the previous workers taking ownership of the "means of production" with the hope of creating a better working environment and offer opportunities for others to grow and benefit together, rather than be exploited migrant labor. A hopeful story to inspire us with alternatives and possibilities to start the year.  A farm to keep on our radar to support in any way. 

https://www.alamosacitizen.com/a-new-kind-of-mushroom-farm-emerges/?fbclid=IwAR2fEx4yrVP9tWRMxBPNAW6Je1ykKjxZtw_Fz3mtv0kOpeKwQHegOqHXTCI

Hey y'all. Our Farm is building a new lab. I would like your recommendations on FFUs. Erik recommended the company Clean Rooms Intl) and said they were around $850. We got an email back from Myers Mushrooms and apparently they're selling those units at retail for $1200. Is that the only way to get them? 
We also are considering used ones from a Microprocessor Manufacturer that are selling at similar price. Do you think it would be safe to get a used one if it came from a reliably clean environment? How to know how much life span it has?

Cheaper place to get the American FFU? 
New Chinese FFU?
Or used American?

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256195201848

Would anyone like to take a shot  as to what is causing this weird growth on my oyster spawn? I've gotten this kind of growth before and the spawn wasn't  contaminated ? Have you seen this before? (The darker brown looking dust  is the gypsum). Then second half pictures are from a different lot.