Production and Processing of Flammulina velutipes and Lentinus edodes Mushroom Strains

Abstract

Cultivation of Flammulina velutipes and Lentinus edodes shiitake mushrooms under the local environmental conditions and suitability of some local wastes as a cultivation media were studied. Effects of media formula, and media preparation as well as environmental conditions of cultivation on growth parameters and yield of the two tested mushrooms were also studied. The highest yield of F.!•elutipes (408.8 g I kg wet medium) was obtained by growing on non-composted rice straw+ sawdust medium. While, the highest yield of L.edodes (283.7g I kg wet medium) was obtained by utilizing non-composted oak sawdust. Chemical composition of F.velutipes and L.edodes differed according to cultivation media. Moisture , crude protein, crude fiber and ash content for F.velutipes grown on non composted rice straw sawdust were 88.50, 24.75, 15.62 and 8.46%, respectively. While L.edodes fruitbodies grown on non-composted oak sawdust contained 84.3% moisture, 19.25% protein, 12.13% crude fiber and 9.77% ash content. F.velutipes and L.edodes mushrooms contained all essential and non­ ' essential amino acids, where lysine was the dominant essential one and glutamic acid was the dominant non-essential amino acid for the two mushroom species. Fresh fruit bodies of F. velutipes and L.edodes packed in different packages and stored at 7°C retained their quality up to 7 days. Drying process for the tested mushrooms caused a reduction in protein, ether extract, and microbial counts, while color index (browning as OD) was increased. Untreated (control) and sulfured dried mushroom samples were acceptable after drying, while blanched samples were not acceptable. Stored dried mushroom samples showed a decrease pattern in protein, ether extract and sulfur dioxide contents as well as rehydration ratio, while moisture content, OD and microbial counts increased but all samples still acceptable up to one year. Canning process for tested mushrooms decreased protein, ether extract and ash contents, while increased moisture, crude fiber and total carbohydrates of such mushrooms. Storing of canned mushrooms samples continuously increased moisture content, and 00, while a reduction in protein and ash contents was detected. However, canned samples still acceptable after 12 months storage. Biological experiments showed that, the protein of the tested mushrooms is considered a good protein from the nutritional point of view. Also, dried F.velutipes and L.edodes could be used as a hypocholesterolemic agent at 3 or 5 %level