Abstract
Humidity control is considered to be very important in fruiting body formation during the cultivation of the mushroom Lentinula edodes. In this study, visualization of moisture transport after primordial formation was conducted using a fluorescent dye, Rhodamine B. Results showed that fluorescent dye sprayed on the mycelial block did not migrate into the fruiting body. On the other hand, fluorescent dye injected at the base of the fruiting body primordium was transported to the upper part of the stipe, while fluorescent dye dispersed on the primordium was delivered into the pileus of the fruiting body. These results suggested that a large amount of moisture may be taken into the pileus of the fruiting body from the air at the latter stage of fruiting body formation.
