Effect of Chilling Period on the Yield of Shiitake Mushroom (Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing) Spawn

Abstract

The cultivation of shitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing) has been successfully undertaken using sawdust as the growth medium in the provinces of chaiyaphum and Khon Kaen in Northeast Thailland, since 1983. This study aimed at an examination of the effect on shitake spawn of the duration of immersion in cold water (temperature 15 C +- 2 C) for 0, 2, 6 and 15 hours. The studywas undertaken in the period 1985/86 in Khon Kaen province. There was no significant effect of the chilling treatments on yield, however, chilling for a period of 2 hours gave the maximum mushroom size.