Peiliang Li

Author    Correspondence author
Biological Evidence, 2026, Vol. 16, No.   
Received: 01 Jan., 1970    Accepted: 01 Jan., 1970    Published: 24 Aug., 2026

Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) is one of the important edible and medicinal mushrooms, and substrate management is a key factor affecting production stability, yield formation, and quality improvement. This review analyzes the effects of different substrate materials, including sawdust and agricultural and forestry residues, as well as nutrient supplementation, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, moisture conditions, and physical properties of substrates on mycelial growth, bag maturation, fruiting process, and fruit body quality formation. A high-quality substrate should not only provide sufficient carbon and nitrogen sources but also maintain good aeration, water-holding capacity, and an appropriate nutrient release rate. Hardwood sawdust remains the main basic material in current production; however, with increasing resource costs, alternative materials such as fruit tree branches, crop straw, and forestry residues have received increasing attention. Appropriate supplementation with nutrients such as wheat bran and rice bran, together with optimization of the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, can promote mycelial growth, improve substrate bag maturity, and enhance yield stability. Meanwhile, substrate composition also affects cap color, commercial appearance, nutritional components, and flavor compound accumulation of shiitake mushrooms. Based on production practices in major cultivation regions, including Qingyuan in Zhejiang Province and Xixia in Henan Province, this review discusses regional differences in substrate management strategies and industrial development characteristics. In the future, shiitake mushroom production should further promote the recycling utilization of agricultural and forestry residues, precise substrate management, and quality-oriented production to achieve resource conservation, cost reduction, and sustainable development of the shiitake mushroom industry.