Optimal Conditions for the Production of Mother Culture for Cultivated Iraqi Edible Mushroom Lentinula edodes RSR strain (Shiitake Mushroom)

Sahib, R.S., S.A. Shafiq and R.A. Chechan. 2022. Optimal Conditions for the Production of Mother Culture for Cultivated Iraqi Edible Mushroom Lentinula edodes RSR strain (Shiitake Mushroom). Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 40(4): 356-361. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-40.4.356361 This study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions of using different agro-natural wastes to develop a local culture media suitable for producing mother cultures of the wild Shiitake Iraqi strain mushroom Lentinula edodes RSR, by using different natural media composed of wheat, oats, barley, corn cobs, green peas, chickpeas, wheat bran, rice bran, barley bran, bumper leaves, moringa leaves, sawdust and whey cheese. In addition to potato dextrose agar (PDA) used for comparison at 10 to 40 g/L concentration. The optimal concentration of the medium produced was 20 g/L, and the best pH for mycelium development of this strain was 6.5 at 23oC under dark conditions. The best mycelial growth and density obtained was on wheat flour agar media. Keywords: Agro-wastes, shitake cultivation, mushroom, environmental factors