Preservation of fungal samples

[Heather Erika Hallen]

A query for anybody involved in fungal herbarium work:

I normally airdry my samples (I deal solely with fleshy Basidiomycetes;
Agaricales and Aphyllophorales), place them in herbarium boxes, stick them in a
cabinet, and they're fine. I noticed today that, in a box of Lepiota americana
which I thought I had dried thoroughly last year (samples had been left at 60
degrees C for 18 hours; entire sample sample was rigid and dry to the touch),
the base of the stipe of each mushroom was rotting. Color had changed from pink
to brown, tissue was soft and moist to the touch. I have placed the samples
back in the plant drier. If I cut off the affected parts of the fungi, should
that be enough to preserve the remainder of the sample? Would it help to put a
dessicant in with the things? Has anybody else had this problem?

Much thanks for any suggestions.

Heather Hallen