Japan’s Shiitake Mushroom Will Soon Be Available in Manipur

This unique mushroom from Japan, which is also popularly known as the golden oak mushroom, is grown only in areas with a temperature of -5oCelsius. The Japanese wood mushroom, commonly known as the shiitake mushroom, will soon be available in the markets of Manipur. A group of Japanese experts have begun imparting training to 10 staff of the Salai Agro Production Pvt Ltd's mushroom unit at Lairenkabi Maning Leikai in Imphal West. During the training, the staffers were trained in different ways on how to cultivate the variety of mushroom with an aim in leading to the biodiversity of conservation and economic uplift of local people. 

As per experts, the shiitake mushroom needs to be cultivated over a period of 100 days inside cold storage under 5oCelsius. Later, the plastic covering the Japanese wood mushroom can be opened and depending on the ripeness of the mushrooms, they can be harvested after a period of around 3 to 10 days.

The Japanese wood mushroom Lentinula eddoes commonly called as shiitake is most popular and important cultivated mushroom in Japan. It is the 2nd largest mushroom cultivated in the world after Agarics Bosporus. In 1994, its annual production was about 8, 26,200 tonnes out of which 63,200 MT is produced in China alone. It is liked by the consumers because of its unique taste and flavor and presence of a chemical which reduces plasma cholesterol level. It is mainly cultivated in Japan, People's republic of China, Taiwan, S. Korea and United State of America. It grows in nature on the wood of broad leaf trees mainly oak and chestnut. 

The shiitake mycelium grows between 5 to 30C but the most optimum temperature is 20-26C. Low temperatures (14-20C) are favored during spawning logs, so that there is minimum growth of mould competitors. For spawn inoculation, small holes of 1x1cm and 1.5 to 2cm deep are made on the logs with the help of drilling machine. The holes are made at a distance of 20-30cm (long axis) and 6cm between each row. The holes between two rows are alternate in position. Saw dust spawn is filled in the holes or wood plug spawn is inserted by cutting out similar size pieces. The saw dust spawn should be kept soft and not tightly pressed. The holes are sealed with paraffin wax. The spawning should be mostly done in aseptic condition.