Where mushrooms meet muscle and science meets obsession.
Welcome to the breeding ground of innovation.
At MuscleShroom, we do not simply grow Lion’s Mane. We are creating a new generation of it.
In the MuscleStrain Lab, we are selectively breeding Hericium erinaceus strains for rapid growth, dense fruiting bodies, and resilient performance. Through genetic tracking, tissue cloning, and experimental cultivation, we are pursuing the ultimate goal:
a Super Strain of Lion’s Mane that grows larger, faster, and stronger than anything currently available.
This is our mission. This is our experiment. And you are invited to follow it as it unfolds.
At the heart of the MuscleStrain Lab is a singular ambition: to cultivate the most powerful Lion’s Mane mushroom strain ever developed. This is not about producing more of the same. It is about pushing the biological limits of Hericium erinaceus through focused experimentation, informed selection, and methodical breeding.
Lion’s Mane mushrooms are renowned for their cognitive and neurological benefits, but not all strains are created equal. By selectively breeding for speed, size, and resilience, we aim to create a premium strain that outperforms commercially available cultures in every metric.
Whether you are a grower, a researcher, or simply someone who values cutting-edge fungi, this project brings you inside the process from petri dish to harvest.
Below is a live summary of our breeding trials. Each cross is tracked by ID, outcome, and performance highlights. Full results and lab notes are updated regularly.
| Date Paired | Cross ID | Date Paired | Parent Strains | Source Location | Clamp Connection | Status | Notes |
At the MuscleStrain Lab, we follow a methodical and transparent process to create new and improved strains of Hericium erinaceus. Our approach combines traditional mycological techniques with practical experimentation and meticulous documentation.
We begin by collecting spores from a variety of Lion’s Mane specimens, including both cultivated and wild sources. These spores are placed on sterilised agar plates in a clean environment where they are encouraged to germinate. Each spore gives rise to a unique strain of mycelium, similar to how each seed from a fruit can produce a slightly different tree.
From these germinated plates, we isolate individual monokaryons. A monokaryon is a strain of mycelium containing a single nucleus per cell. These are the fundamental building blocks for breeding and are carefully labelled, catalogued, and stored for future pairing.
Pairs of monokaryons are introduced to the same nutrient agar plate. If they are genetically compatible, their mycelia will grow towards each other and fuse. This results in the formation of a dikaryon, a hybrid strain containing two nuclei per cell. We examine the fusion site under a microscope to confirm the presence of clamp connections, which are a visual indication that successful mating has occurred.
Each viable hybrid is transferred to a sterilised substrate and observed for key performance indicators. These include the speed of colonisation, the number of days to fruiting, and the size, texture, and structure of the fruiting bodies. Environmental tolerance is also assessed by observing how the strain responds to temperature and humidity variation. Data from each trial is entered into the Breeding Log for future reference and comparison.
When a hybrid demonstrates exceptional qualities, it is cloned by taking inner tissue from the most vigorous fruiting body. The resulting mycelium is propagated across multiple growth cycles to ensure the strain performs consistently over time. This stabilisation process helps confirm whether the strain is suitable for wider use or distribution.
Only the highest performing strains are retained and added to our genetic library. Each strain is documented with full details of its origin, parentage, growth characteristics, and environmental response. This ensures a complete breeding history and allows for reproducibility, refinement, and eventual release to the growing community.
