Abstract
Various methods were examined to apply judgment for sawdust-based culture maturity of shiitake, Lentinula edodes, at different fruit body development stages. Glucosamine content showed a peak at the fruit body senescent stage. Glucosamine increased steadily to the sporophore senescent stage, and then declined sharply crop treatment. Lipid phosphate and ergosterol contents showed a peak at pinning and button break stages, respectively. The content of both were quite higher at the fully colonized stage prior to fruiting and increased rapidly on the fruiting culture, and were concluded to the convenient measurement for judgment of culture maturity and fruiting potentials. These methods may be applicable for detecting the fungal growth and maturity in L. edodes sawdust-based culture. The maturity linked to control the fruit body flush timing.
