To improve the productivity of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes), seven different types of media for liquid spawn (denoted as “A” to “G”) were prepared with 0.3% soybean meal and varying sugar and glucose concentrations. During 14 days of incubation, the pH of the liquid culture gradually acidified with increasing incubation period. Additionally, there was a significant, but not prominent, difference in the degree of acidification depending on the sugar to glucose ratio. Liquid spawn culture “G,” which had the highest sugar content was the most acidic on the last day of incubation. Mycelium dry weight increased significantly with increasing incubation period, and there was no significant difference in mycelium dry weight irrespective of the sugar to glucose ratio even after 14 days of culture. The inoculation of liquid spawn in sawdust medium with an inoculation volume ≥ 45 mL and incubation period of 15 to 18 days were the optimal culture conditions. Productivity of fruit bodies in sawdust medium and mushrooms treated with liquid spawn was significantly higher compared to solid spawn treatment. The mushrooms treated with liquid spawn had better chewiness, and the free amino acid content, which is associated with savory taste, was higher in these mushrooms compared to those treated with solid spawn.

The physicochemical characteristics of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivated using liquid spawn (MLS) were compared with those of commercial mushrooms cultivated using solid spawn. The color intensity of the two types of mushrooms showed no remarkable difference. The hardness of the MLS-cultivated mushrooms was significantly higher, but their moisture content (86.80%) was significantly lower than that of the commercial mushrooms. Mineral contents in MLS-cultivated mushrooms (421.17 mg/100 g) were significantly higher than those in the commercial mushrooms (333.26–362.78 mg/100 g); in particular, the potassium (K) content was the most abundant in the former. The amino acid content in the MLS-cultivated mushrooms (4,695.22 mg/100 g) was about 1.4–2.0 times that in the commercial mushrooms. The essential amino acid contents and sum of aspartic acid and glutamic acid were higher in the MLS-cultivated mushrooms than in the commercial mushrooms. The β-glucan content in the MLS-cultivated mushrooms was 1.1–2.3 times higher than that in the commercial mushrooms. The total phenol and flavonoid contents and the DPPH and ABTS radical-scavenging activities of the MLS-cultivated mushrooms were significantly higher than those of the commercial mushrooms; however, the reducing power showed an opposite trend. Therefore, MLS-cultivated mushrooms contained higher amounts of valuable components and higher antioxidant activities than commercial mushrooms.

느타리버섯의 생산성 향상을 위하여 액체종균 배양액의 조건을 설정하고자 하였다. Potato dextrose 배양액에서 균체 생장을 위한 최적 pH는 6이었다. 대두박 0.3%와 설탕 및 포도당 함량을 달리한 15가지의 배양액(‘A’~‘O’)은 22℃및 pH 6의 조건에서 14일동안 배양되었을 때 설탕과 포도당이 각각 함유된 배양액에서 흡광도는 증가되었다. 특히 5~20%의 포도당만 함유된 배양액(‘C’, ‘D’, E’ 및 ‘F’)은 배양기간의 경과에 따라 흡광도가 증가되는 경향이었다. 배양액의 건조 균체량은 20%이하의 설탕이나 포도당이 단독으로 함유된 배양액에서 감소되었으나, 30%의 설탕(‘A’) 또는 포도당(‘B’)이 각각 함유된 배양액에서 건조 균체량은 증가되었다. 1100 mL의 톱밥배지 병재배 시 액체종균의 최적 접종량은 15~20 mL이었다. 고체종균 및 액체종균으로 느타리버섯을 재배하여 조직감을 비교한 결과 고체종균에 비해 액체종균으로 재배된 버섯에서 우수한 경향이었다.