Identification of Optimal Culture Conditions for Mycelial Growth and Cultivation of Monkey Head Mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: fr.) Pers)

Monkey head mushrooms (Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers) have been broadly cultivated and widely consumed as traditional medicinal herbs as well as functional food in the Orient for several hundred years of history. The identification of optimal culture conditions for mycelium growth and fruiting body formation is one of the most important steps in cultivation of mushroom. The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal culture conditions including pH level, temperature, media and substrate mixtures for the mycelium growth and cultivation of Hericium erinaceus strain He-2. Results of the study revealed that the optimal conditions for mycelial growth were observed at 25 ± 1oC and pH 8.0. H. erinaceus was cultured on five different types of culture media: Czapek, Raper, PGA (potato, glucose, agar), PGA supplemented with rice bran, and PGA supplemented with fresh mushrooms. PGA supplemented with fresh mushrooms was found to be the best medium for the growth of mycelia. A media containing 99% grain of rice + 1% CaCO3 was considered as the best mother spawn media for mycelial growth. Among various culture media, the highest mycelium growth rate and biological efficiency of H. erinaceus were obtained when grown on a treatment of 87% sawdust + 4% corn bran + 8% rice bran + 1% CaCO3.