Nutrient Requirements And Environmental Conditions For The Cultivation Of The Medicinal Mushroom (Lentinula Edodes) (Berk.) In Ghana

The optimum nutrient and environmental growth conditions of three strains of Lentinula edodes (Le 75, Le P and Quagu) were investigated for their ability to grow under different temperatures, on some selected natural media, at different light durations as well as different acidities. Temperatures investigated ranged from 16 o C to 30 o C. Optimal temperature for the development of all the three strains of L. edodes was at 25 o C. The five selected natural media were; maize, rice, millet, sorghum meal agar and potatoes dextrose agar. The best mycelial growth on natural media was recorded on sorghum meal agar. The mycelia growth rates were also investigated under light durations. The best growth of L. edodes was in constant 24 hrs darkness for all the three strains and the differences between them were significant (P≤0.05). Mycelial filaments were relatively dense when it was incubated in alternating shifts of dark/light conditions; this showed that light is an important factor in the mycelial characteristics of this fungus. This baseline data obtained on these parameters is necessary for the cultivation of Lentinula edodes in Ghana as it is being introduced into the country for the first time.