Cultivation of the Shiitake Mushroom

Abstract

Abstract The basic principles and practices of the cultivation of shiitake mushroom ( Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing.) on tree logs under forest conditions at Beltsville, Maryland, are described. Spawned logs were supported to prevent contact with the soil, but no additional cultural practices were used to promote mycelial growth or mushroom fruiting. The best and most consistent mushroom yield was obtained from black and white oak. The total yield from oak logs about 90 g fresh weight mushrooms/kg fresh weight (FW) log (5 year crop cycle), was about 50% ofthat reported for large scale commercial production of shiitake mushrooms in Japan. Results of these experiments indicate also that there does not appear to be any substrate barrier to the escape and naturalization of L. edodes in the northeastern United States.