Bioscience Evidence 2026, Vol.16, No.4, 316-328 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/be 321 cultivation is complete. Only when the mycelia have sufficiently transformed substrate nutrients and reached a stable mature state can the bags support subsequent primordium formation and continuous fruiting. Different substrate formulations can influence the maturation speed of cultivation bags. Significant differences in mycelial expansion rates have been observed among agricultural by-product-based substrates, and different combinations of plant residues can alter the colonization process and maturation rhythm of shiitake bags. The maturation process of shiitake bags is influenced not only by substrate nutrient composition but also by cultivation environmental conditions. Shiitake mycelia are considered mesophilic fungi, and most studies indicate that 24 ℃~25 ℃ is suitable for vegetative growth, while a pH range of 5.0-6.0 promotes mycelial expansion (Trang et al., 2023). However, under practical production conditions, there is a clear interaction between substrate characteristics and environmental factors. 3.3 Fruiting induction and bag management After the substrate bags reach maturity, shiitake mycelia gradually transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. At this stage, external environmental stimulation and management practices are required to induce primordium formation and fruiting body development. Common induction measures include temperature changes, soaking treatment, humidity adjustment, light regulation, and gas exchange control. These measures do not directly produce mushrooms but promote the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth after the substrate bags have completed nutrient accumulation and physiological maturation. In practical production, soaking and temperature variation are among the most commonly used induction methods in shiitake bag cultivation. Studies on different bag-opening methods and stimulation treatments have shown that bag management approaches can influence the location and number of primordia formed (Yamauchi et al., 2009). Traditional bag-opening methods may cause primordia to form simultaneously on multiple surfaces of the substrate block, increasing the need for spraying and water management to prevent dehydration. By adjusting stimulation timing and water supply methods, primordium formation can be more concentrated, improving subsequent management efficiency. Therefore, fruiting induction is not only a process of environmental regulation but also a management approach for optimizing the spatial distribution of fruiting bodies. 4 Effects of Substrate Management on Shiitake Mushroom Yield 4.1 Effects of substrate on fruiting initiation and production cycle The production cycle of shiitake mushrooms mainly includes mycelial expansion, bag maturation, primordium formation, and fruit body harvesting. Among these stages, substrate composition is an important factor affecting the transition speed between different growth stages. Because different woody materials vary in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents, as well as their degradation rates, shiitake mycelia show different utilization efficiencies for different substrates. El Sebaaly et al. (2024) used oak, eucalyptus, mixed sawdust, and wheat bran-supplemented substrates to evaluate substrate suitability by comparing mycelial colonization time, fruiting initiation time, and first harvest time under different formulations. The oak + wheat bran treatment showed faster bag maturation, with a full colonization time of 72.2 days, first fruiting at 75.5 days, and harvest readiness at only 79.5 days. In contrast, the eucalyptus + maple wood + wheat bran treatment required 88.3, 87.5, and 92.0 days for full colonization, fruiting initiation, and harvest, respectively. The difference in production cycle between the two substrates exceeded 10 days, indicating that different combinations of woody materials can significantly influence the transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth in shiitake mushrooms. Sassine et al. (2024) selected oak acorns (OA), vine pruning residues (VIP), and olive pruning residues (OLPR) as alternative materials to replace oak sawdust and evaluated the effects of different mixing ratios on mycelial maturation and fruiting time (Figure 3). Substrates containing oak acorns showed better production adaptability. The OA treatment and OA combined with vine pruning residues shortened mycelial maturation and first harvest time by approximately 9 days compared with the oak sawdust control. However, when vine pruning residues or olive pruning residues were used alone, the production cycle was significantly extended.
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