Cultivation ofShiitake Mushroom(Lentinula edodes)

Directorate of Mushroom Research(Indian Council of Agricultural Research)

Chambaghat, Solan - 173 213 (HP)

INTRODUCTION

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is the mostimportant culinary medicinal mushroomwhich ranks at number two in terms of totalmushroom production in the world onlynext to button mushroom. Shiitake is aprized mushroom with a delicious taste andtexture. It is used medicinally for diseasesinvolving depressed immune function-including cancer, AIDS, environmentalallergies, Candida infections and frequentflu and colds. Shiitake is also beneficial forsoothing bronchial inflammation andregulating urine incontinence as well as forreducing chronic high cholesterol. Lentinan(a cell-wall constituent extracted from thefruiting bodies of shiitake) is animmunomodulating agent which may beuseful both as a general rejuvenative forolder persons, as well as prophylactically toprotect healthy, physically active youngpeople from overwork and exhaustion.

PRODUCTION SYSTEM

The commercial cultivation can be carriedout on sawdust of broad leave trees mainlytuni, mango, safeda, oak, maple and poplarusing saw dust (80 kg), wheat bran (19 kg)and calcium carbonate (1 kg). Water shouldbe adjusted to 60-65% and pH to be adjustedto 5.5-6.0 using gypsum. Saw dust is soakedfor 16-18 hours and wheat bran for threehours. All the ingredients are thoroughlymixed.

Filling and sterilization of bags: Fill thebags (1.5 to 2 kg) immediately after mixingall the ingredients. Otherwise fermentationand contamination may start. Polypropylene(heat resistant) bags are used for filling. Thebags are first loosely filled and later pressedto get cylindrical shape. After filling the bag

PVC or iron ring is inserted at the mouth ofthe bag and plugged with non-absorbentcotton (Fig. 1). Sterilization is carried out inan autoclave at 22 psi for 1½-2 hours.

Spawning and Spawn running: Spawningis carried out by removing the cotton plugs.Grain spawn is introduced @ 3% (dry wtbasis) under aseptic conditions (Fig.2 & 3).After inoculation bags are placed in croppingrooms where these are incubated in a 4 h/20 h light/ dark cycles at 22-26°C. Spawnrun (Fig.4) may take 60-80 days or moredepending upon the strain andenvironmental conditions. During theperiod it goes through mycelial growth,mycelail coat, mycelial bump,pigmentation/browning and coat hardeningphase.

Mycelial coat formation : A thick mycelialsheet coat will develop (Fig. 5) on the surfaceof the substrate. This will be formed after 6-8 weeks of inoculation/spawning.

Mycelial bump formation: Bumps areclumps of mycelium, commonly formed onthe surface of most strains after 9-10 weeks(Fig.6). These bumps can turn intomushroom primordia at a later stage butmost of them abort. Fluctuatingtemperatures and high CO2 promotes bumpformation.

Pigmentation : Some aeration should beprovided when the bumps have formed. Afterlonger spawn run the surface of thecolonized substrate may begin to turnbrown, some exudates may also be thereduring spawn running.

Coat hardening phase: Remove thepolypropylene bag when synthetic log haspartially (half or one third) turned brown.

The coat will gradually become hard andoutside of the substrate should also be hardwhile the inside should be softer and moist.The core of the substrate has moisture ofabout 80%.

Fruiting : For induction of fruiting suitabletemperature, high RH, good ventilation andcold water/ shock treatment are required.After 5-8 days of cold-water (4-6°C)treatment for 10-20 minutes, initiation ofprimordia begin (Fig.7). The fruit bodiesfurther develop and became ready to harvestin next 5-7 days.

A schedule of various parameters is givenbelow in Table 1.

i. The temperature range for fruiting isstrain dependent.

ii. A dry period after harvesting willprevent contamination.

iii. The synthetic logs may be given awater bath to restore high moisturecontent of the substrate.

Harvesting

Take the stalks of the mushrooms andbreak them from the substrate. Don’t tearthem from the surface. Harvest themushrooms at an early stage (Fig. 8).Normal yields are 35-45% of the wet weightof the substrate.

Table 1. Various fruiting parameter

Stages/ Days Temperature Light HumidityActivity (°C) intensity (%)

(Lux)

Incubation 60-80 22-26 500-1000 65-70

Induction 2-4 10-20 500-1000 85-95

Fruiting 7-14 12-25 800-1000 60-80

Rest 7-21 22-26 None 65-70

Induction 2-4 10-20 500-1000 85-95

Printed at: Yugantar Prakashan Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Published By

DirectorDirectorate of Mushroom Research

Chambaghat, Solan- 173213 (HP) IndiaPhone: 01792-230767, 230541, 230451;

Fax: 01792-231207E-mail: directordmr@gmail.comWebsite: www.nrcmushroom.org

Authors : V.P. Sharma and Satish Kumar

Fig. 1. Filled bags Fig. 2. Inoculation of sterlized bags

Fig. 3. Inoculated bag Fig. 4. Spawn run bags

Fig. 5. Mycelial coatformation stage

Fig. 6. Mycelial bumpformation stage

Fig. 7. Initiation of fruitbodies

Fig. 8. Mushrooms ready toharvest