Optimization of Caragana korshinskii SawdustSupplement in a Lentinula edodes Cultivation Substrate Using Grey Correlation Analysis
Sawdust prepared from Caragana korshinskii, a perennial shrub widely cultivated in arid desert regions, was substituted (10%-40%) for oak sawdust in an established substrate formula used to cultivate Lentinula edodes, and the main agronomic traits and nutritional attributes of the resultant fruit bodies were determined using Grey Correlation Analysis.Highest ranked combined weighting coefficients were recorded with formula NT2, which contained 20% C.korshinskii sawdust, 60% oak sawdust, 18.8% bran, 1% gypsum powder and 0.2% lime.Fruiting time was 6.3 d earlier and the average protein content of fruit bodies was 6.35% higher using NT2 compared with controls without C.korshinskii sawdust.