Viability and mushroom production of Lentinula edodes and L. boryana strains (Fungi : Basidiomycetes) after cryogenic storage of spawn stocks

The viability of two strains of Lentinula edodes and two of L. boryana unde r cryogenic storage during 1 week has been studied from the evaluation of f ive contact periods (1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 5 h) of the cryoprotector, glycerol 1 0% (v/v), with the mycelium. On average, 99.25% of samples were recovered, 1.5 h being the best contact period. Afterwards, samples of the strains, be fore and after the cryogenic process, were cultivated at a pilot plant usin g a mix of Carpinus carolineana sawdust, rice bran and sorghum grains as su bstrate. The evaluation parameters were: days of incubation, primordia init iation, number of flushes, fruiting body sizes and biological efficiency (E B). Only L. edodes developed carpophores. On average, 3-4 flushes were obta ined, which reached EB of 67.1 +/- 30.7 to 74.7 +/- 24.5 with no statistica l differences detected between the yields. The majority of fructification s izes ranged from 5 to 14.9 cm. Morphological differences between the sample s before and after the treatment were not observed.