Selection of Lentinula edodes Sawdust Cultivation Cultivars Suitable for Sawdust Block Medium Cultivation

The cultivation method of shiitake is divided into two methods: log cultivation and sawdust cultivation. Recently, the importance of sawdust cultivation has been highlighted due to problems such as environmental problems, rising labor costs, and a reduced labor force. Among the 24 Sawdust-cultivated Lentinula edodes cultivars in Korea stored by the National Institute of Forest Science, this study was conducted to select excellent cultivars under the sawdust block cultivation method. After inoculation, the sawdust mediums were cultured for 100 days (60 days in dark and then 40 days in light), and only Sanjo 712ho sprouted the primordia on the 10th day of light culture (total 70 days of cultivation). As a result of cultivation, the average total yield of the 24 cultivars were 1,816 g and Sanjo 712ho was 2,267 g. The fruiting body yield was the highest in Sanjo 713ho with 3,443 g followed by Sanjo 710ho (3,355 g). Sanlim 10ho, Sansanhyang, and Sanjo 716ho showed low production with 174, 238, and 214 g, respectively. As a result of investigating the morphological characteristics of the fruit bodies, the fresh weight of Sansanhyang and Bambithyang was about twice as heavy as the overall average, and Sulbaekhyang was about twice as light. Bambithyang was the largest and longest in diameter and length of the stipe, and the thickness of the stem was the thickest in Sanjo 716ho. As for the hardness of pileus, Bambithyang showed the highest value at 1,276 g/5 mm, and Sanjo 711ho showed the lowest value at 542 g/5 mm. In summary, Bambithyang showed the best fruiting body characteristics and Sanjo 713ho showed the highest yield in the sawdust block cultivation method. This study, the cultivar with shortened cultivation periods and cultivars with excellent morphological characteristics and high yields.