Submitted to: Invasive Plant Science and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2024
Publication Date: 5/20/2024
Citation: Bowers, K.E., Hight, S.D., Miller, N.W., Gaffke, A.M., Taylor, J.E. 2024. Use of non-native, invasive tree logs for commercial mushroom production. Invasive Plant Science and Management. https://doi.org/10.1017/inp.2024.12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/inp.2024.12

Interpretive Summary: Throughout the United States, agricultural producers struggle to deal with the removal and control of invasive trees on their land. These trees, if left unchecked, can cause a significant reduction in productivity. There is a need to develop strategies to offset the cost of invasive tree control. One way to create a market for unused timber from invasive tree removal is the production of specialty mushrooms. An USDA-ARS scientist with the Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research unit in Tallahassee, FL in collaboration with researchers from New Mexico State University and Florida A&M University investigated the use of invasive trees for mushroom production. Studies conducted identified that many invasive trees are not suitable for mushroom production, however, the most wide spread and damaging tree, chinses tallow, produced large, high-quality mushrooms. The cost of Chinese tallow removal could be offset through income production from mushroom cultivation.

Technical Abstract: Removal and disposal of non-native trees is expensive and time-consuming. Using these non-native trees as a substrate to produce edible mushrooms could diversify farming operations and provide additional income to small-scale farmers. This research compared the production of shiitake mushrooms, Lentinula edodes Berk, on non-native tree logs to shiitake mushroom production on native oak (Quercus L.) logs, which are the traditional substrate. In a two-year study, we evaluated non-native tree species as alternate substrates for growing shiitake mushrooms at farms in northern Florida and southern Georgia. A mix of native oak and non-native trees were targeted for removal on participating farms. Five non-native tree species were initially tested for their ability to produce edible mushrooms, shiitake and oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus var. florida (Jacquin) Kummer). Of the non-native trees we tested: Chinaberry (Melia azedarach L.), Chinese tallow [(Triadica sebifera) (L.) Small], silktree (Albizia julibrissin Durazz.), earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth) and paperbark tree [Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav) S.F. Blake], only T. sebifera produced shitake mushrooms, and none produced native Florida Oyster mushrooms. In on-farm trials, Quercus spp. logs produced more mushrooms per log and had a higher total mushroom yield per log. However, mushrooms produced on T. sebifera logs had higher mean weight per mushroom. Edible mushroom fungi can be used to recycle invasive, non-native T. sebifera and transform their biomass from waste into an income-producing resource.