Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) cultivation in sawdust media supplemented with soba-shochu distiller waste

Abstract

The effect of dried soba-shochu distiller waste as a nutritional additive for supplementation in sawdust media on yield and nutritional quality of shiitake was investigated. The number and yield of shiitake increased about 20% and 17%, respectively, when shochu distiller waste was used concomitantly with rice bran. An increased yield of about 12% was also detected under commercial scale shiitake production. Shiitake harvested in sawdust media supplemented with shochu distiller waste contained high levels of amino acids, especially glutamic acid accounting for the umami taste, and glycine and alanine accounting for the sweet taste. These results show that dried soba-shochu distiller waste can be efficiently used as a nutritional additive for shiitake cultivation.