Mycology specialists love not only observing the behavior of mushrooms – whether under a microscope or on growing specimens. With extensive knowledge and experience in genetics, they also strive to crossbreed different varieties and isolate new strains from fruiting bodies with desired characteristics, such as strength or phenotype. In licensed labs, this also applies to Psilocybe cubensis. In their context, the most common goal is… a higher concentration of the tryptamines characteristic of these mushrooms. And which varieties are among the “strongest”? Find out below! I primarily selected strains whose grow kits for observing mycelium are available at the Mykolaborian store.
Psilocybin Mushrooms – “Magic Mushrooms” with a Unique Alkaloid
Mushrooms have a number of amazing properties, and ongoing evolution continues to create organisms that amaze with their abilities and potential usefulness to humans. Did you know that, for example, in the Zone, the restricted traffic zone around the Chernobyl power plant, mushrooms were found feeding on radiation, eliminating it from the environment?! This opens up completely new possibilities for cleaning up radioactively contaminated zones.
Psilocybin mushrooms, although their properties have gone in a completely different direction than those of their “cousins” from Chernobyl, are also surprising. Some see them as a potential support for psychotherapy in trauma, addiction, and various personality disorders or depression. It’s no wonder, then, that a race is underway in this field to develop varieties of hallucinogenic mushrooms with high potential.
Psilocybin, an alkaloid from the tryptamine group with psychedelic properties, is responsible for this. Due to its structural similarity to serotonin, it affects serotonin and dopamine receptors, for example, in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This causes profound changes in perception, including the reception of stimuli, perception of time, etc. Furthermore, they can also lead to the “deconstruction” or “death” of the ego, as well as the accessing of repressed traumas from consciousness. For this reason (and by stimulating neuroplasticity), many researchers consider preparations from these mushrooms as a potential remedy for treating mental ailments.
Strains with the Highest Hallucinogenic Potential
Now that you know what the “higher potential” of psilocybin mushrooms is, it’s time to take a look at three strains that have been considered the most potent variants of this species for some time. It is worth knowing that Psilocybe cubensis has many varieties, which were obtained thanks to the selection of specimens with the desired characteristics. These include:
Tidal Wave
Tidal Wave has several variants. In this case, however, we’re talking about Tidal Wave 4. Its appearance differs from many members of its line, as it phenotypically resembles regular mushrooms. They grow on long, whitish stems, developing regular, orange caps (lighter at the edges). Compared to the classic Psilocybe cubensis, the fruiting bodies of this strain have much thicker stems. They are also productive and take a long time to mature. The effect?
Very high in characteristic tryptamines. The average alkaloid concentration is reported to be as high as 1.17% of the dry weight of the analytical sample, with reports of even 3.82% being achieved!
Penis Envy
This is one of the most primitive strains of psilocybin mushrooms, and its discovery is attributed to Terrence McKenna. It is characterized by dynamic and vigorous colonization, as well as a phallic shape. It grows on thick, whitish stems with characteristic tubercles and has a “helmet-shaped,” light brown cap with upturned edges. They yield quite abundantly and tend to produce the tryptamines typical of this species.
How much does it produce in total? On average, it’s about 1.15% dry matter, with a maximum yield of 2.9%. Considering its “wildness,” that’s quite a lot.
Albino Penis Envy (APE) RB
APE RB is an interesting variety, the result of chance and well-thought-out genetics. Its creator first observed that the resulting line had reverted, and then isolated specimens from these reverts with a high potential for the desired traits to create APE Revert Back. This created a completely new product and developed it into a stable albino strain. APE RB is a mushroom that grows on long, irregular stems that tend to bend in various directions. The fruiting bodies have small caps with a distinct umbo and rolled edges. It’s a true albino with slightly cream-colored caps. And the potency?
The APE strain achieved an average concentration of 1.16 tryptamines. The maximum reaches up to 2.34%.
The race to develop more potent varieties is still on!
It’s worth remembering that these are only three strains of hallucinogenic mushrooms that can be considered the “strongest” cultivated variants. However, it’s difficult to say what will happen tomorrow, next month, or next year. There’s a real race going on among mycologists to see who can obtain the varieties richest in tryptamines. It’s worth keeping in mind that the gene pool includes not only Psilocybe cubensis but also many other species, including those containing alkaloids with psychedelic effects. One thing is certain – the mycological community will be closely monitoring this process.