Shiitake production on woods highlighted the DA-BAR in-house webinar on 22 February 2022. Dr. Maribel S. Bacena of Nueva Vizcaya State University served as the resource person.
Dr. Bacena said that the shiitake production has a 265.24% return on investment with eight months to recover based on their 2018 BAR-funded research project. The method of production was ideal for upland communities with temperature ranging from 17 to 27°C and water temperature of around 7°C.
Alder tree, an introduced species in the country, was the ideal wood media to be used. She stressed that although cutting down trees is prohibited under law, there are certain species like the Alder tree that do not require Cutting Tree Permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
To start the production, wood branches were gathered and cut at uniform length, ideally 1.2 meter for easier handling. Holes were drilled on the wood with a 30 centimeter distance, 1 cm width, and 2.5 cm depth. At least 1 gram of spawn will be inoculated per hole, then cover with candle or foam.
Planted wood branches were piled to help mycelia grow. Proper distance should be observed for good ventilation and maintenance. The wood branches should be turned upside down every two to four months to even out the moisture content.
After approximately eight months, the wood branches should be soaked in water for 48 hours and then incubated to stimulate growth. The branches would then be piled in a place where the mushrooms have the space to grow without external disturbance.
Pinheads would pop out from the bark; hence, Dr. Bacena stressed the importance of its proper management. Once the mushrooms were fully grown, it should be harvested using clean materials and delivered to the market within 13 hours. Wood branches should be given at least one month to rest before soaking it again for another round of production.
Dr. Bacena emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean environment for the production of shiitake production to prevent contamination.