Shiitake mushroom globally a well known cultivated species is yet to find a place in India. The success of commercial cultivation of this mushroom is largely depending on improved cultivation technique on locally available substrate. For isolation of Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing., inner tissue bits from the basidiocarp, after sterilization with 10% sodium hypochloride recorded maximum tissue growth with least microbial contamination on potato dextrose agar medium. In culture method organic

more »

... ive calcium carbonate significantly increased the biomass and lignocellulolytic enzyme production of L. edodes. For spawn production illfilled paddy + calcium carbonate (20 g/ Kg) significantly enhanced the mycelial growth and basidiocarp formation. In polybag method, ill-filled paddy with calcium carbonate recorded highest yield of 360.70 Kg of substrates in a separate experiment. It has been concluded that in Tamil Nadu shiitake can be cultivated commercially using ill-filled substrate with additives calcium carbonate using poly bag method.