This study was carried out to investigate the management characteristics and growth performance of L. edodes from the cooling stage to incubation. Bags of different heights and weights are available for bagging. When the medium size of 17x13 cm was used and the size of the inoculation hole was changed from 1/3 to 2/3, the browning period was shortened to 30 days. Mycelial growth was evaluated according to the cooling temperature after sterilization. It was observed to be the highest at 122 mm/15 days at 10 °C and 114 mm/15 days and 117 mm/15 days at 15 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The contamination rate of the sawdust media before inoculation was measured as 0, 4.5x10, 1.3x102, 4.0x103 cfu at 5 °C, 10 °C, 15 °C, and 24 °C respectively. The average of 1.6x108 colony forming units (cfu) of microorganisms was observed in the sawdust that had been piled for six months outdoors. In summer, the sawdust has to be used immediately after mixing. The sterilized medium had an average of 4x103 cfu of microorganisms at 24 °C and 1.3×102 cfu at 15 °C. After 15 days of inoculation in vitro, the growth conditions of the sawdust was the best at 132 mm, followed by grain and liquid. When inoculated with liquid spawn, the moisture content of the substrate should be adjusted between 50% and 55% in advance.

Biological efficiency (BE), the ratio of fresh mushrooms harvested per dry substrate weight, expressed as the percentage of Lentinula edodes, also known as shiitake, was determined using the ‘Sanjo 701’ strain stored in the Department of Mushroom at the Korea National College of Agriculture and Fisheries. The mycelia were grown in glass columns with varying levels of moisture content and varying mixing periods of 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hours. The substrate was sterilized using a steam pressure autoclave sterilizer at normal and high pressure to avoid contamination. The results showed that mycelial growth (126 mm/15 days) was optimized at 55% moisture content. The best mycelial growth of 117 mm/15 days was obtained with 2 hours of mixing time. Normal pressure sterilization yielded better results with mycelial growth of 96 mm/15 days at 100°C compared to 88 mm /15 days with sterilization at 121°C. Mycelial density was higher, i.e. 3(+++), with normal pressure sterilization compared to 2(++) with high pressure sterilization. Furthermore, sawdust mixed with 5% woodchips increased the substrate porosity and yielded higher mycelial growth. Thus, we demonstrated that the optimum harvest or potential increased yield of shiitake can be obtained by modulating moisture content, mixing time, and substrate porosity.

This study was carried out to investigate the management characteristics and techniques by comparing and analyzing the process of mixing, sterilization, cooling, inoculation and incubation for bag cultivation of L. edodes. The medium was sterilized after mixing it for 30 minutes, 1 and 2 hours respectively. The general moisture content of the sawdust substrate has been adjusted to 65%, while the case of the L. edodes substrate was 55%. Only 5% of wood chips of 5-8 mm in particle size were mixed to secure the space of the sawdust particles. As a result, mycelial growth was 1.4cm faster and the density was better(+++) than control(++). Wood chips are soaked in advance for a week during winter and 4 days during summer. There is an average number of 1.6x108 (cfu) of microorganisms in the sawdust that has been piled for six months outdoor. In summer, it has to be used immediately after mixing sawdust. High-pressure sterilization should be performed to use as a mushroom spawn, and to improve physical properties, it was great to sterilize the medium at a normal-pressure. There are height and width type for bags to be consumed for bagging. When the height was reduced into 17cm and the width was increased into 13cm, the browning period was shortened by 30 days and the period of mycelial growth was shortened by 25 days. The sterilized medium had an average of 4x103(cfu) of microorganisms at 25°C and 1.3×102 (cfu) at 15°C. After 25 days from inoculation in vitro, the growth condition of sawdust was the best with 13.2 cm, followed by grain spawn and liquid respectively. When inoculated with liquid spawn, the moisture content of substrate should be adjusted to 55% to 50% in advance.