Abstract
The effect of corn fiber (CNF), which is a by-product of the wet corn milling process of the production of corn starch in factories on the fruit-body formation of edible mushrooms in a sawdust-based cultivation, was examined. In Lentinula edodes, however, the increase in fruit-body yield was not observed, but the pileus diameter of fruit-body tended to enlarge with added CNF. In Pleurotus ostreatus and P. cornucopiae, fruit-body yield increased at 1.2-1.6 times by using CNF. In addition, the cultivation period was shortened for the 2nd-1lth day compared to that of the control without CNF. From these results, we see that CNF is a useful culture material for sawdust-based cultivation. Furthermore, CNF is effective in producing the fruit-body which increases yield, shortens the cultivation period and increases the quality of mushrooms.
