Characteristics of white-rotted woody materials obtained from Shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) and nameko mushroom (Pholiota nameko) cultivation with in vitro rumen fermentation

The characteristics of digestion of white-rotted woody materials, obtained in the cultivation of shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) and nameko mushroom (Pholiota nameko) were studied using a batch artificial rumen system. The time course changes in digestibilities of dry matter and cell wall, gas production, volatile fatty acids (VFA) production, NH3-N concentration and pH values were measured as parameters during fermentation by rumen microorganisms. In the white-rotted woody materials, the pattern of the time course changes in every parameter came near to that of rice straw used as the control material. Through the process of white-rot by two fungi, the white-rotted woody materials had a longer lag phase at the beginning of rumen fermentation. In evaluating the nutritive value of white-rotted materials, VFA production or gas production can be used as appropriate criteria in combination with in vitro digestibility by Tilley and Terryʹs procedure.