Production of Andean-Patagonic edible mushroom Grifola gargal on wood-based substrates

• Grifola gargal which is naturally grows only in Nothofagus obliqua tree of Chile and Argentina is Andean-Patagonic mushroom.
• The fruit body formations of G. gargal were investigated in wood-based substrates.
• All 13 strains of G. gargal could be produced using the commercially available mixed hardwood substrates.
• The colors and morphological features of fruit bodies were different on each strain.
• The fruit bodies of G. gargal were formed in the mixed hardwood medium added with sugi substrate at a ratio of 20% in volume.

Grifola gargal is an edible mushroom with a characteristic almond flavor, and is found naturally in only limited areas of southern Argentina and Chile. The fruit body formations of G. gargal on wood-based substrates composed of a mixture of various hardwoods (mainly Quercus serrata) and/or Crytomeria japonica (sugi) were investigated. All 13 strains of G. gargal formed fruit bodies in the mixed hardwood medium, but the colors and morphological features of the fruit bodies were different for each strain. Of the strains tested, the strains GG010, GG006 and GG004 were suitable for commercial cultivation in mixed hardwood medium judging from their yield, biological efficiency (BE), cultivation period, color and mushroom shape. The fruit bodies of G. gargal (GG010) were formed even when sugi was added to the mixed hardwood medium (hardwood:sugi, 4:1 v/v). These results show that the Andean-Patagonic edible mushroom G. gargal can be produced at a reasonable cost in Japan using several strains and the commercially available mixed hardwood used for Lentinula edodes cultivation.