Bioconversion of rice straw by Lentinula edodes under different spawn formulations

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Growing global demand for mushrooms necessitates increased productivity and reduced costs.
• Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is an economically important edible and medicinal mushroom.
• Agroresidues offer a sustainable substrate for mushroom cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize shiitake mushroom production and quality using agroresidues.
• To evaluate the impact of different spawn formulations on shiitake yield and characteristics.
• To identify cost-effective methods for enhancing shiitake cultivation.

Main Methods:

• Two shiitake strains were tested with seven spawn formulations.
• Spawn formulations included variations of sorghum grain, calcium carbonate, sawdust, and peat.
• Substrate composed of rice straw, sawdust, wheat bran, and calcium carbonate was sterilized.
• Inoculated blocks were incubated for 87 days, yielding two flushes.

Main Results:

• Spawn formulations supplemented with sawdust and peat significantly improved morphological characteristics compared to the control.
• Days to first harvest ranged from 87 to 94 days.
• Average basidiome weight varied from 6.38 to 28.75 g, with supplemented spawn showing superior productivity.

Conclusions:

• Supplementing shiitake spawn with sawdust and peat enhances bioconversion, leading to improved yield and composition.
• Optimized spawn formulation is crucial for increasing shiitake production on agroresidue substrates.
• This approach holds promise for improving the commercial viability of shiitake mushroom farming.