BREEDING AND CULTIVATION OF SHIITAKE (LENTINUS-EDODES) MUSHROOMS

This article describes methods of breeding, differentiation of commerc ial cultivars, and production of spawn of shiitake (Lentinus edodes). In the past, shiitake was cultivated in Japan with logs as the medium, either in forests for dry shiitake mushrooms or in buildings for fres h shiitake mushrooms. Cultivars were selected depending on the culture systems. Recently, sawdust medium is being widely used for cultivatio n of fresh shiitake mushrooms in buildings. Practical procedures of sh iitake cultivation and processing of fruiting bodies are given in deta il with logs and sawdust as culture media. Cultivation on logs is desc ribed for production of dry shiitake mushroom in season, and for produ ction of fresh shiitake during off-season. Cultivation during off-seas on is divided into two systems of forced fruiting during winter and su mmer. Different systems of production with sawdust are also described.