This study examined ceramic beads as a reusable material for cultivation of edible mushrooms. There are 20 species of popular edible mushrooms in Japan all of which were tested. Within the cultivation vessels, 70% were ceramic beads (diameter 1 cm) and 30% of the nutrient solution. Moreover, the control groups used several types of sawdust, wheat bran, and rice bran with the ratio of 8:1:1 as the substrate. Two sets of substrates were evaluated with the fruit bodies yield. The result indicated that there were 11 species that responded well with the ceramic bead substrate when compared to the traditional sawdust substrate with Agrocybe cylindrica and Pleurotus ostreatus performed the best adding 70 g more of the fruit bodies. Conversely, nine species responded poorly with the ceramic beads substrate with Auricularia polytricha performed the worst losing 120 g. Ceramic beads as a reusable material for substrates not only provide a clean and controllable environment for mycelium to colonize but also deliver more aeration and water availability inside the cultivation vessels. The application of the ceramic bead cultivation can be viewed as an alternative solution for producing Ophiocordyceps sinensis on the industrial level.
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