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Spore vials for mushroom cultivation | Mushverse

Spore vials

Spore vials are a practical and durable method for starting mushroom cultivation at home. They consist of small hermetically sealed glass vials containing a solution of sterilized water with millions of spores in suspension. Thanks to their design, they offer prolonged conservation and reduce the risk of contamination, becoming a highly appreciated tool in applied mycology.

What is a mushroom spore vial?

A spore vial typically contains around 10 ml of solution, with thousands of spores per milliliter. This format allows maintaining the viability of the material for long periods, keeping for up to 2 years under refrigeration (at 2-8 °C). Its rubber stopper ensures that the contents remain sterile and ready to be used at any time.

How spore vials are used

Using spore vials is simple: first shake the vial to disperse the spores, then extract the contents with a sterile syringe through the stopper. Once the syringe is loaded, the spores can be inoculated into a suitable substrate, either in glass jars or in cultivation bags with silicone closure. After inoculation, mycelial colonization begins, a fundamental stage for mushroom development.

More information about Spore vials

Advantages over spore syringes

Although spore syringes are very common, vials offer notable advantages for the methodical cultivator:

  • Greater durability and viability: Their hermetic sealing and laboratory glass allow conservation for up to 2 years, far superior to that of a plastic syringe.
  • Superior content utilization: In a vial, spores disperse more homogeneously in the solution and do not adhere to the walls, ensuring that a greater amount of viable spores is utilized in each extraction.
  • Allows preparing multiple syringes: A single vial can be used to load several sterile syringes at different times, keeping the rest of the contents sterile for future inoculations thanks to its injection port.

Storage and care of spore vials

To maintain their viability, vials should always be stored tightly closed and cold, between 2 and 8 °C. They should not be frozen, as low temperatures damage the spores and compromise the vial's integrity. Under proper conditions, they become one of the most reliable and durable conservation methods in domestic mushroom cultivation.

In conclusion, spore vials represent a professional and efficient alternative for those seeking consistent and quality results in domestic mycology.

Want to delve deeper into other inoculation methods? Also discover our categories on liquid culture syringes and spore syringes.