Impact of Vitamins and Growth Regulators on Mycelial Expansion in Lentinula edodes

The successful cultivation of Lentinula edodes (shiitake mushroom) plays a vital role in the global mushroom industry, offering economic benefits to both smallholder cultivators and industrial-scale producers. Among the various factors influencing its development, the role of micronutrients and hormonal substances in promoting mycelial growth is less extensively studied. This investigation was undertaken to assess the impact of selected vitamins (such as thiamine, folic, and ascorbic acid) and growth regulators (including gibberellic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and naphthalene) on the mycelial expansion of L. edodes strains DMRO327 and DMRO-356 cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Mycelial growth was recorded at five-day intervals over a 15-day period post-inoculation. Results demonstrated that certain vitamins, particularly thiamine, and growth regulators like Naphthalene acid, significantly enhanced radial mycelial growth compared to the control. These findings underscore the potential of integrating specific bioactive compounds into culture media to improve the vegetative development of L. edodes, thereby supporting more efficient and productive cultivation practices.