Evaluation of non-conventional lignocellulosic residues for Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) cultivation

Abstract

Non-conventional substrates were evaluated to raise Shiitake mushroom including cereal, legume and oilseed wastes wherein cereal straw performed better than other residues. Mycelial run (42.00 days) and mycelial coat hardening (48.00 days) was fastest on rice straw followed by wheat straw while maximum time was taken by sawdust substrate. The other colonization parameters like mycelial bump formation (MBF), browning, formation of pinheads and production of mature fruit bodies was significantly higher on cereal residues. Among legumes, soybean straw was colonized in 38.67 days but pinhead formation and mature fruits took 95.33 and 101.67 days, respectively. Morphological parameters like number of fruit body, weight of fruit body, pileus diameter, stalk length and stalk diameter were significantly better on cereal residues. However, pileus diameter, stalk length and stalk diameter of fruit bodies was higher on sawdust substrate (control) while biological efficiency (25.36 per cent) was more on cereal substrates.