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Article

The Agronomic Traits Differences in Hericium erinaceus Cultivated with Different Straw Formulations by Replacing Wood with Straw

by
Zhu Lu
1,†,
Yang Yang
2,†,
Shuang Hu
3,
Yu-Kun Ma
1,
Zi-Ming Ren
1,
Yue Wang
1,
Ying-Kun Yang
4,
Shu-Juan Ji
1,
Huan Wang
5,* and
Xiao Huang
6,*
1
Jilin Province Vegetable and Flower Research Institute, Changchun 130119, China
2
Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 571101, China
3
Jilin Academy of Sericulture Science, Changchun 132299, China
4
Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Biological Breeding and Exploitation of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms, Qingyuan 323800, China
5
Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China
6
Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Northeast Agricultural Research Center of China), Changchun 130033, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Horticulturae 2025, 11(10), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101220
Submission received: 25 August 2025 / Revised: 19 September 2025 / Accepted: 7 October 2025 / Published: 10 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Propagation and Cultivation of Mushroom)
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Abstract

Hericium erinaceus, a rare edible–medicinal fungus, has attracted great attention in food and pharmaceutical fields due to its rich nutritional and bioactive components. However, its traditional cultivation relies heavily on wood chip substrates, causing resource unsustainability. The “wood-replacing-with-grass” technology can address this issue, contributing to ecological conservation and alleviating resource conflicts between edible fungus cultivation and forestry development. This study focused on straw substitution for wood chips, initially screening suitable straw types and optimal addition ratios from 7 straw varieties, and systematically investigating the agronomic trait variations in H. erinaceus under different substrate formulations via cultivation experiments. Results showed the following: (1) Rapeseed straw, soybean straw, and corn straw substituting 20%, 30%, and 40% of wood chips, respectively, promoted better mycelial growth of H. erinaceus. (2) All screened straw formulations enabled fruiting. With increased straw addition, the mycelial full colonization time shortened (up to 5 days shorter in 40% corn/soybean straw treatments). The 20% corn straw treatment showed significantly higher biological efficiency and average fresh weight than the control (CK); the 20% soybean straw treatment had no significant difference in biological efficiency but significantly higher average fresh weight than CK; and the 20% rapeseed straw treatment showed no significant differences in both indexes from CK. However, when straw addition exceeded 20%, fruiting body firmness, yield, and biological efficiency decreased progressively. (3) The 40% soybean straw treatment yielded fruiting bodies with the highest crude protein, manganese, and iron contents, while the 40% rapeseed straw treatment had the highest crude fat, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and selenium contents. These findings provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for optimizing H. erinaceus cultivation substrate formulations, improving product quality, and promoting sustainable industrial development.

1. Introduction

Hericium erinaceus, commonly referred to as monkey head mushroom or hedgehog mushroom, derives its name from the striking resemblance of its fruiting body to a monkey’s head. Renowned for its palatable taste and high nutritional value [1], it recognized as a precious medicinal and edible fungus. With a history spanning over 1000 years, it has been extensively utilized in traditional medicine practices in China and Japan, particularly for the treatment of stomach diseases [2]. Research on its bioactive components reveals that H. erinaceus is rich in polysaccharides, triterpenes, sterols, hericenones, and erinacines [3,4], which demonstrate anti-inflammatory [5,6], stomach-soothing [7], anti-cancer [8,9] and liver-protective [10,11] properties.
In recent years, rising living standards and heightened health awareness have driven steadily increasing demand for H. erinaceus. China—the earliest cultivator of this species, with more than 150 years of domestication history—traditionally relies on wood substrates. However, industry expansion has exacerbated forest resource scarcity, threatening sustainable development. Consequently, alternative substrate research has prioritized agricultural byproducts like straw. With China generating approximately 700 million tons of straw annually [12]—a lignocellulose-rich resource suitable for partial wood replacement—its utilization not only mitigates deforestation pressure but also reduces pollution from field burning [13]. Global research advances, particularly for Pleurotus pulmonarius [14,15] and Lentinula edodes [16], demonstrate straw’s viability in driving sustainable industry growth.
In typical protected cultivation and annual cultivation systems, straw, with the advantages of stable raw material supply and easy adaptation to mechanized mixing and bagging operations after treatment, can directly replace traditional sawdust substrates to meet the needs of edible fungus production. In the large-scale protected greenhouse cultivation of [specific mushroom species to be supplemented], it was found that straw substrates, after being crushed and decomposed, can be directly connected to automatic bagging machines, and the production efficiency is 15–20% higher than that of sawdust substrates. At the same time, the resource utilization of straw can also significantly reduce waste pollution in horticultural production (such as a 40% reduction in incineration), which is in line with the requirements of green and circular development of the horticultural industry [17].
Mushrooms metabolize lignocellulose from cultivation substrates into nutritional constituents, macronutrients, and minerals [18,19,20,21,22]. Substrate composition critically determines agronomic traits including cultivation cycle, yield, biological efficiency [23], and protein content [24], with straw substitution demonstrating effects comparable to wood-based media [25,26]. Jahedi et al. [27] enhanced H. erinaceus yield and efficiency using a formulation containing 30% wheat straw and 30% sawdust, while Bunroj et al. [28].reported superior yields and protein enrichment in rice straw substrates Aswathy et al. [29] had screened out a cultivation formula for P. tuber-regium using rice straw as the cultivation substrate, and found that adding straw can significantly increase the yield, protein and carbohydrate contents of P. tuber-regium. Although previous studies have confirmed the feasibility of cultivating H. erinaceus with straw [30], most of the existing studies focus on the preliminary report of agronomic traits of a small number of formulas. However, to realize the optimization and industrialization of this technology, it is necessary to first conduct a systematic screening among different straw types and substitution ratios, and comprehensively evaluate their impacts on nutritional quality [21,25].
Notably, substrate utilization efficiency varies substantially across species and strains. Mleczek et al. confirmed differential elemental bioavailability among fungal species and intraspecific strains [31], indicating species-specific nutrient absorption patterns. This necessitates comprehensive substrate evaluation beyond yield metrics to include fruiting body quality, nutritional composition, and marketability—essential for targeted fungal improvement.
Accordingly, this study examined seven Chinese agricultural residues (rice, rapeseed, wheat, soybean, peanut straws; corn straw; corn cobs) as wood-chip alternatives. Through plate cultures, cultivation trials, and fruiting experiments, we screened suitable straw types and substitution ratios while evaluating formulation effects on H. erinaceus agronomic traits. The findings establish foundations for scalable straw implementation that enhances mushroom quality while advancing environmental sustainability and economic viability—aligning with “Dual Carbon” objectives and green agriculture initiatives.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Strains

Hericium erinaceus (Strain 20190111) was provided by the Edible Fungus Research Center of Jilin Province Vegetable and Flower Research Institute, China. The H. erinaceus strain was inoculated into a 90 mm-diameter Petri dish for activation and cultivation, and set aside for subsequent use after 7 days of cultivation.
Under an aseptic environment, activated H. erinaceus blocks (5 mm in diameter) were inoculated into pre-prepared PDA test tubes and incubated in a constant temperature incubator at 25 °C until the mycelia fully colonized the tubes. Next, the spawn for cultivation was prepared by weighing and thoroughly mixing the substrate components in the following proportions: 78% wheat grains, 10% sawdust, 8% wheat bran, 2% gypsum, 1% glucose, and 1% calcium superphosphate. The moisture content was adjusted to 60%, and the mixture was packed into high-pressure polyethylene plastic bags (12 cm × 24 cm × 6 filaments) with 500 g of substrate per bag. The bags were then sterilized at 121 °C under high pressure for 2.5 h. After cooling, three well-grown PDA test tube spawn pieces (2 cm in diameter) were inoculated into each bag. The bags were incubated at 22–25 °C until the mycelia fully colonized the substrate, completing the preparation of wheat grain spawn for subsequent use.

2.2. Plate Culture Experiment

As shown in Table 1, rice straw, rapeseed straw, wheat straw, soybean straw, peanut straw, corn straw, corn cobs, and sawdust passed through a 10-mesh sieve (with an aperture of approximately 2.00 mm were used as the main raw materials, and a total of 5 substitution ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) were selected. All raw materials were mixed evenly and then spread in glass Petri dishes (9 cm in diameter). After being autoclaved at 121 °C and cooled, they were set aside for later use. The activated H. erinaceus blocks (3 mm in diameter) were inoculated in the center of each Petri dish, which was then placed in a constant-temperature incubator at 25 °C for cultivation in the dark, with 3 biological replicates set for each formula. The mycelial growth rate was measured using the “cross” marking method [32,33], with records taken every 24 h for 10 consecutive days. Data were recorded daily for 10 consecutive days, and the average daily mycelial growth rate was calculated. Meanwhile, the mycelial growth status of H. erinaceus under different formulations was observed via morphological methods. Density: Dense > Moderate > Sparse; Thickness: Thick > Thin; Color: Pure white > Bright white. Based on the above results, the formulations and ratios for subsequent experiments were selected.

2.3. Cultivation Experiment

Three formulations and three ratios with faster growth rates and better mycelial growth performance were selected for cultivation experiments. To the selected formulations, 18% wheat bran, 2% corn flour, and 1% gypsum were added, and the mixtures were thoroughly blended before being packed into bags. The moisture content was set at 65%, followed by autoclaving at 121 °C for 2.5 h. After cooling to room temperature, each bag was inoculated with 30 g of wheat grain spawn. The inoculated bags were incubated in a dark environment at 20–24 °C. Observe and record the mycelium germination time (observe daily after inoculation until mycelium starts to germinate) and the mycelium full-bag time (observe daily after inoculation until the mycelium fully colonizes the cultivation bag). Once the mycelia fully colonized the bags, the temperature was reduced to 18 °C for a one-week maturation period. A straight slit (2.5 cm in length) was made in the middle of each bag before they were transferred to the fruiting room for fruiting, with 500 bags prepared for each formulation. The fruiting conditions were set as follows: temperature 16–22 °C, relative air humidity 85–90%, and daily ventilation to maintain air circulation.

2.4. Agronomic Trait Measurement

The agronomic traits of H. erinaceus cultivated with different formulations were analyzed, focusing on the following parameters: primordium formation time (defined as the period from the start of fruiting management to primordium formation), average fresh weight (by default, each fungal bag produces one fruiting body at a time, so this refers to the average fresh weight of a single fruiting body), fruiting body shape (categorized as Hericium-like or irregular), spine type (mainly referring to spine length and density; spine length is measured with a ruler, while spine density is determined by visual observation), fruiting body color (visually assessed as white, light yellow and yellow), fruiting body firmness (evaluated by the feel when pinching the fruiting body, classified as firm, moderate, or loose), and antagonistic ability against miscellaneous fungi (judged by visual observation of contamination). The average biological efficiency was subsequently calculated.
Average Biological Efficiency = (Fresh Weight/Dry Weight) × 100%)
The nutritional component contents in the H. erinaceus fruiting bodies were detected, including crude polysaccharides, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, and elements such as potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se). For sample preparation of component detection: for each of the 10 formulations, 45–60 fruiting bodies from the first flush of H. erinaceus were randomly selected from the 500 fungal bags corresponding to that formulation. The selected fruiting bodies were then randomly divided into 3 portions (each weighing 3 kg, equivalent to approximately 15–20 fruiting bodies), placed in an oven at 40 °C to dry to a constant weight, crushed, and passed through an 80-mesh sieve. Finally, the samples were stored in sterile bags in a dry environment for subsequent use, with 3 replicates set for all detections. The detection methods for each component were as follows: crude polysaccharide content was determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid method [34,35]; crude protein content by the Diego method [36]; crude fat content by the Soxhlet extraction method [37]; crude fiber content by the gravimetric method [38]; ash content by the dry ashing method [39]; and the contents of elements (K, P, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se) were determined following the methods described by Wang et al. and Schmitz et al. [40,41,42]. All determinations were conducted in 3 replicates to ensure data reliability.

2.5. Data Processing

Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) to evaluate the significance of differences in all measured agronomic traits and nutritional components across the 10 cultivation formulations. Specifically, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to compare the means of the following parameters: primordium formation time, average biological efficiency, average fresh weight of fruiting bodies, as well as the contents of crude polysaccharides, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, and mineral elements (potassium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, and selenium). The purpose of these analyses was to determine whether there were statistically significant variations in growth performance and nutritional quality of H. erinaceus among different formulations. Following ANOVA, Duncan’s multiple range test was used for post hoc comparisons at a significance level of p < 0.05 to identify which specific formulations differed significantly from each other.
Data visualization, including the generation of bar charts and scatter plots to illustrate trends in agronomic traits and nutritional component contents across formulations, was conducted using Origin 2018 (OriginLab, Northampton, MA, USA).

3. Results

3.1. The Result of Plate Culture Experiment

With increasing proportions of straw substituting wood chips, the mycelial growth rate in each straw-based formulation initially increased and then decreased (Figure 1A). The growth rate was slightly faster at replacement ratios of 20%, 30%, and 40% compared to other tested ratios. Notably, formulations containing soybean straw, rapeseed straw, and corn straw produced whiter, thicker, and denser mycelia, while other straw formulations yielded relatively sparse mycelial growth (Figure 1B). Furthermore, when rapeseed straw, soybean straw, or corn straw replaced wood chips, the mycelial growth rate was significantly faster than with other straw types.

3.2. The Growth Status of Hericium erinaceus Hyphae in the Cultivation Bag

Based on these observations, rapeseed straw, soybean straw, and corn straw were selected as wood chip substitutes at replacement ratios of 20%, 30%, and 40% for subsequent cultivation experiments. The cultivation experiments demonstrated successful fruiting across all substrate formulations, though with significant variations in growth cycle duration. While mycelial germination times showed no difference from the control (CK), complete colonization times differed markedly (Table 2), exhibiting a consistent decrease with increasing straw substitution ratios. The 40% substitution level (Formulations 3, 6, and 9) showed optimal performance, particularly with corn straw and soybean straw achieving the shortest colonization period (28 days, 15% faster than rapeseed straw). All straw-based formulations outperformed CK, with 40% corn/soybean straw reducing colonization time by up to 5 days (15.2% decrease), demonstrating the efficacy of these substitutions in accelerating mycelial development.

3.3. Comparison of Agronomic Traits of Hericium erinaceus with Different Formulas

A comparison showed that the fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus cultivated with different formulations were all white, and there were no significant differences in traits such as fruiting body shape and spine length. However, with the increase in the additive proportion, the firmness of fruiting bodies, biological efficiency and yield showed regular changes. When the additional proportion of corn straw was 20% (Formulation 1), the biological efficiency and average fresh weight were significantly higher than those of the control group (CK), while there was no difference in the firmness of fruiting bodies compared with CK. When the additional proportion of soybean straw was 20% (Formulation 4), there was no significant difference in biological efficiency from CK, but the average fresh weight was significantly higher than that of CK, and the firmness of fruiting bodies was not different from that of CK. When the additional proportion of rapeseed straw was 20% (Formulation 7), neither biological efficiency nor average fresh weight showed a significant difference from CK (Table 3).
However, when the additional proportion exceeded 20%, the firmness of fruiting bodies, biological efficiency, and yield exhibited regular changes with the increase in straw proportion. Specifically, as the amount of straw added increased, the firmness of fruiting bodies gradually changed from firm to loose, and the fruiting bodies became smaller gradually (Figure 2); meanwhile, the biological efficiency and yield also decreased gradually with the increase in additional proportion (Table 2). No obvious regularity was observed regarding the type of straw, though. In addition, there were no significant differences in the contamination resistance among different formulations.
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Figure 2. Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies. (A): Morphology of H. erinaceus fruiting bodies under different formulations. (B): Cultivation images of H. erinaceus under different formulations.
Figure 2. Hericium erinaceus fruiting bodies. (A): Morphology of H. erinaceus fruiting bodies under different formulations. (B): Cultivation images of H. erinaceus under different formulations.
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Table 3. Comparison of agronomic traits of H. erinaceus cultivated with different formulations.
Table 3. Comparison of agronomic traits of H. erinaceus cultivated with different formulations.
NumberPrimordia Formation Time (d)Length of the Fruiting Body (cm)Width of the Fruiting Body (cm)FirmnessAntimicrobial ResistanceBiological Efficiency (%)Fresh Weight per Mushroom (g)Average Fresh Weight (g)
CK7 ± 16–128–13FirmHigh resistance90.91 ± 0.33 b*210–275250.00 ± 0.38 c
17 ± 17–138–14FirmHigh resistance92.31 ± 0.60 a209–278253.85 ± 0.70 a
28 ± 17–128–13ModerateHigh resistance87.56 ± 0.61 d210–260240.79 ± 0.69 e
38 ± 25–107–11LooseHigh resistance70.47 ± 0.55 g180–240193.79 ± 0.51 h
47 ± 15–128–13FirmHigh resistance91.64 ± 0.54 ab190–280252.01 ± 0.86 b
58 ± 16–128–13ModerateHigh resistance88.89 ± 0.85 c185–269244.45 ± 0.42 d
68 ± 35–106–12LooseHigh resistance79.79 ± 0.53 e180–235219.42 ± 0.46 f
77 ± 15–128–13FirmHigh resistance90.89 ± 0.83 b200–265249.95 ± 0.61 c
88 ± 36–138–13LooseHigh resistance87.69 ± 0.66 cd189–267241.15 ± 0.81 e
98 ± 25–106–12LooseHigh resistance76.46 ± 0.45 f175–243210.27 ± 0.59 g
* Lowercase letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05. Different lowercase letters represent significant differences, while the same letter indicates no significant difference.

3.4. Nutritional Components

No significant differences in ash content were observed among the formulations (Figure 3C), whereas other nutritional components exhibited variations and followed distinct patterns of change (Figure 3). Firstly, with the increase in straw substitution ratio, the contents of crude polysaccharides and crude fiber showed a downward trend. At the same straw addition ratio, the contents of crude polysaccharides and crude fiber were highest in the corn straw group, followed by the rapeseed straw group, and lowest in the soybean straw group. Among all formulations, except for Formula 1, the contents of crude polysaccharides and crude fiber in the other formulations were significantly lower than those in the control group (CK). Secondly, as the straw substitution ratio increased, the contents of crude protein and crude fat exhibited an upward trend, and the contents of both components in all formulations were significantly higher than those in CK. At the same straw addition ratio, the crude protein content was highest in the soybean straw group, followed by the rapeseed straw group, and then the corn straw group; in contrast, the crude fat content was highest in the rapeseed straw group, followed by the soybean straw group, and then the corn straw group. Notably, the crude fat content in Formula 9 and Formula 8 was the highest, with no significant difference between the two formulations.
The concentrations of eight elements in the fruiting bodies of H. erinaceus across all formulations were significantly higher than those in the control group (CK) and followed distinct patterns of variation (Figure 4). Initially, with the increase in straw substitution ratio, the contents of phosphorus, copper, calcium, zinc, and selenium exhibited an increasing trend. At the same straw substitution ratio, the contents of these elements were highest in the rapeseed straw group, followed by the soybean straw group, and lowest in the corn straw group. Specifically, Formula 9 had the highest concentrations of calcium, copper, zinc, selenium, and phosphorus, followed by Formula 8. There were no significant differences in phosphorus content between Formulas 9 and 8. Additionally, no significant differences in calcium content were observed among Formulas 3, 5, 6, and 8. The varying proportions of corn straw had minimal impact on selenium content, with no significant differences detected among the three corn straw formulations.
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Figure 3. Nutrient content under different formulations. (A): Crude polysaccharide content. (B): Crude protein content. (C): Ash content. (D): Crude fiber content. (E): Crude fat content. Note: The numbers in each figure represent the following: 1: Corn straw 20%. 2: Corn straw 30%. 3: Corn straw 40%. 4: Soybean straw 20%. 5: Soybean straw 30%. 6: Soybean straw 40%. 7: Rapeseed straw 20%. 8: Rapeseed straw 30%. 9: Rapeseed straw 40%. There are no values with significant differences in the graph, the outliers are not shown.
Figure 3. Nutrient content under different formulations. (A): Crude polysaccharide content. (B): Crude protein content. (C): Ash content. (D): Crude fiber content. (E): Crude fat content. Note: The numbers in each figure represent the following: 1: Corn straw 20%. 2: Corn straw 30%. 3: Corn straw 40%. 4: Soybean straw 20%. 5: Soybean straw 30%. 6: Soybean straw 40%. 7: Rapeseed straw 20%. 8: Rapeseed straw 30%. 9: Rapeseed straw 40%. There are no values with significant differences in the graph, the outliers are not shown.
Horticulturae 11 01220 g003
Furthermore, as the straw substitution ratio increased, the contents of manganese and iron also showed an increasing trend. At the same straw addition ratio, the contents of manganese and iron were highest in the soybean straw group, followed by the rapeseed straw group, and lowest in the corn straw group. Formula 6 exhibited the highest manganese and iron contents, followed by Formula 9. No significant difference in iron content was observed between Formulas 5 and 9. With the increase in straw substitution ratio, potassium content also exhibited an increasing trend. At the same straw substitution ratio, potassium content was highest in the rapeseed straw group, followed by the corn straw group, and then the soybean straw group. Formula 9 had the highest potassium content, followed by Formulas 3 and 8, with no significant difference in potassium content between the latter two. In contrast, significant differences in potassium content were observed among the other formulations.
Horticulturae 11 01220 g004
Figure 4. Element content of different formulas. (A): Content of phosphorus, copper, calcium, zinc, and selenium in different formulas. (B): Content of manganese and iron in different formulas. (C): Potassium content in different formulas. Note: The numbers in each figure represent the following: 1: Corn straw 20%. 2: Corn straw 30%. 3: Corn straw 40%. 4: Soybean straw 20%. 5: Soybean straw 30%. 6: Soybean straw 40%. 7: Rapeseed straw 20%. 8: Rapeseed straw 30%. 9: Rapeseed straw 40%. The letters represent the significance of differences at p < 0.05. Different letters indicate significant differences, while the same letter indicates no significant difference.
Figure 4. Element content of different formulas. (A): Content of phosphorus, copper, calcium, zinc, and selenium in different formulas. (B): Content of manganese and iron in different formulas. (C): Potassium content in different formulas. Note: The numbers in each figure represent the following: 1: Corn straw 20%. 2: Corn straw 30%. 3: Corn straw 40%. 4: Soybean straw 20%. 5: Soybean straw 30%. 6: Soybean straw 40%. 7: Rapeseed straw 20%. 8: Rapeseed straw 30%. 9: Rapeseed straw 40%. The letters represent the significance of differences at p < 0.05. Different letters indicate significant differences, while the same letter indicates no significant difference.
Horticulturae 11 01220 g004

4. Discussion

The growth and development of H. erinaceus are inherently dependent on the nutrient composition of its cultivation substrate, as the fungus directly acquires essential carbon sources, nitrogen sources, and trace elements for mycelial growth and fruiting from the cultivation materials. Guided by the ecological cultivation concept of “straw substituting wood”, this study systematically investigated the effects of different straw types (rapeseed straw, soybean straw, and corn straw) and substitution ratios (20%, 30%, and 40%) on the growth, development, and quality of H. erinaceus through preliminary experiments, plate culture experiments, cultivation trials, and agronomic trait determinations. This research aimed to address critical challenges in the edible fungus industry, namely high reliance on timber and low utilization efficiency of agricultural waste, while responding to the industry’s core demand for “reducing production costs and expanding the application of low-cost raw materials”—thereby providing supplementary evidence for the optimization of H. erinaceus cultivation practices.
In the preliminary screening phase, seven straw types (corn straw, corn cob, rice straw, wheat straw, soybean straw, peanut straw, and rapeseed straw) and eight substitution ratios (5–70%) were evaluated. Corn straw, soybean straw, and rapeseed straw were ultimately identified as the optimal substitute materials, with a substitution ratio range of 20–40% effectively supporting H. erinaceus cultivation. From the perspective of mycelial growth characteristics, all three straw types supported mycelial growth of H. erinaceus at substitution ratios of 20–40%, which aligns with the conclusion from previous studies that “straw-based substrates can serve as alternative raw materials for edible fungus cultivation” [14]. Furthermore, as the straw substitution ratio increased, the time required for mycelia to fully colonize the cultivation bags was significantly shortened; notably, the colonization time was reduced by up to 5 days in groups with 40% corn straw or soybean straw substitution. This observation may be attributed to the higher degradation efficiency of cellulose and hemicellulose in straw-based substrates—under the action of microorganisms, these components are more readily decomposed to release carbon sources (e.g., glucose), thereby accelerating the absorption of nutrients by mycelia [43]. Additionally, our prior research demonstrated that specific straw formulations could increase the biological efficiency of H. erinaceus to 89.14% and shorten the cultivation cycle by 7–9 days [30]. This finding is consistent with the “straw substitution-induced reduction in mycelial colonization time” observed in the current study, further confirming the positive promotional effect of straw-based substrates on the growth cycle of H. erinaceus. This conclusion also aligns with reports of “straw shortening the cultivation cycle” in other edible fungi, such as Auricularia auricula [44], P. eryngii [45], and Hypsizygus ulmarius [46]. Meanwhile, it supplements existing research conclusions, including the feasibility of using rice straw and wheat straw as substrates for H. erinaceus cultivation [27,28] and the ability of agricultural waste to shorten its cultivation cycle [47]—collectively verifying the viability of the “straw substituting wood” model.
From the standpoint of the relationship between nutrient supply mechanisms and fruiting body quality, straw in the cultivation substrate exerts a significant impact on the quality of H. erinaceus fruiting bodies by regulating the substrate’s carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and trace element composition [21,25,48]. A specific association was observed between straw type and the nutrient composition of fruiting bodies: fruiting bodies in the 40% soybean straw substitution group exhibited the highest contents of crude protein, manganese, and iron. This may be attributed to the abundant nitrogen sources in soybean straw (e.g., residual protein from soybean meal)—sufficient nitrogen sources provide a material basis for protein synthesis and the enrichment of metal ions [49,50], which is consistent with the conclusion proposed by Mshandete and Cuff [24] that “growth substrates influence protein content”. This finding also provides a clear formulation option for the targeted cultivation of high-protein H. erinaceus. In contrast, fruiting bodies in the 40% rapeseed straw substitution group had the highest contents of crude fat, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and selenium; notably, the elemental contents of fruiting bodies in all straw substitution groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (CK). This phenomenon suggests that straw may facilitate the absorption of mineral elements by H. erinaceus through nutrient conversion, which is analogous to the bioaccumulation characteristics observed by Siwulski et al. [51], who reported that “fungi possess the ability to adsorb heavy metals”. Based on this, we hypothesize that H. erinaceus may accumulate beneficial elements via active absorption or substrate conversion; however, the specific mechanisms require further validation in conjunction with environmental factors such as substrate redox potential, pH, and salinity [52]. Additionally, the nutrient composition of different straw types may regulate the metabolic pathways of H. erinaceus. For instance, lipid precursors and mineral elements in rapeseed straw may provide a material foundation for fat synthesis and mineral accumulation in fruiting bodies [53,54], offering a novel approach for the targeted optimization of H. erinaceus nutrient composition through straw selection to meet the diverse requirements of functional food development.
Notably, the straw addition ratio exerts a “dual effect” on the growth of H. erinaceus: when the substitution ratio of straw for sawdust is 20–40%, it can significantly shorten the mycelial colonization time and promote mycelial growth; however, as the substitution ratio further increases (exceeding 40%), the fruiting body yield, biological efficiency, and compactness all show a gradual downward trend.
Mechanistically, this phenomenon may be related to the changes in the physical and chemical properties of the substrate caused by high straw ratios: although a high straw addition can provide energy for mycelial growth by decomposing and releasing carbon sources, accelerating mycelial colonization, it simultaneously disrupts the original pore structure of the substrate and reduces its water retention capacity, leading to an imbalance between the water retention and air permeability of the substrate. This imbalance will cause unstable water supply or intensify nutrient competition among microorganisms during the fruiting body development stage [55,56], ultimately affecting the sustainability of substrate nutrient supply and interfering with the normal development of fruiting bodies. In addition, the differences in the ash content of fruiting bodies among the various formulations in this study were not significant, which is inconsistent with Singh’s conclusion [57] that “increased loss of organic matter raises the concentration of inorganic substances.” This discrepancy may be related to differences in the efficiency of mineral conversion from different substrates by H. erinaceus. This contradiction should be further analyzed in future studies by tracking the nutrient flow during the substrate degradation process.
From the perspective of application value and environmental protection, although straw cannot completely replace sawdust as a cultivation substrate for H. erinaceus, a partial substitution of 20–40% can not only reduce the environmental pressure caused by the random disposal of agricultural waste (straw) but also decrease the dependence on sawdust resources, thereby reducing the economic cost of H. erinaceus cultivation, which has certain dual ecological and economic benefits. Based on the straw substitution effect and mechanism speculation revealed in this study, subsequent research will focus on the systematic determination of the physical and chemical properties (such as carbon and nitrogen contents, porosity, water-holding capacity, air permeability, etc.) of the mixed substrate of straw and sawdust, to clarify the correlation mechanism between substrate physical and chemical properties and the growth and development of H. erinaceus, and provide more accurate theoretical support for optimizing the straw substitution formula.
From an application-oriented perspective, the nutritional characteristics of fruiting bodies derived from different straw formulas provide clear directions for the product development of H. erinaceus: H. erinaceus cultivated with the 40% rapeseed straw formula is rich in calcium and selenium, which may contribute to enhancing immunity and improving cardiovascular health; in contrast, H. erinaceus cultivated with the 40% soybean straw formula exhibits high iron and manganese contents, holding potential value for blood supplementation and antioxidant activity. This “straw substituting wood” cultivation model not only enables the efficient utilization of agricultural waste and reduces cultivation costs but also facilitates the differentiated production of high-quality H. erinaceus through the precise adjustment of substrate formulas. It thus delivers both ecological and economic benefits, enriches the research system of cultivation substrates for edible and medicinal fungi, and provides theoretical support for the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the sustainable development of the edible fungus industry.

5. Conclusions

In this study, the “wood-replacing-with-grass” technology was adopted, and experiments including pre-experiments, plate culture tests, cultivation tests, and agronomic trait studies were conducted. The results showed that adding straw affected the agronomic traits of H. erinaceus. Specifically, when sawdust was substituted with rapeseed straw, soybean straw, or corn straw at substitution ratios of 20%, 30%, and 40%, respectively, the mycelial growth of H. erinaceus was relatively good.
All straw formulations screened in the preliminary stage were capable of fruiting, and as the proportion of straw added increased, the time for mycelia to fully colonize the bags shortened (with 40% corn straw or soybean straw, the colonization time could be shortened by up to 5 days). When the additional proportion of corn straw was 20%, the biological efficiency and average fresh weight were significantly higher than those of the control group (CK); when the additional proportion of soybean straw was 20%, there was no significant difference in biological efficiency compared with CK, but the average fresh weight was significantly higher than that of CK; and when the additional proportion of rapeseed straw was 20%, neither biological efficiency nor average fresh weight showed a significant difference from CK. However, when the additional proportion of straw exceeded 20%, the firmness of the fruiting bodies gradually decreased, and both yield and biological efficiency also decreased progressively.
Among all formulations, the fruiting bodies cultivated with 40% soybean straw had the highest contents of crude protein, manganese, and iron, while those cultivated with 40% rapeseed straw had the highest contents of crude fat, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, zinc, and selenium.
This study provides a new insight for the directional improvement of H. erinaceus fruiting bodies, offers materials for subsequent research on the active substances and pharmacology of H. erinaceus, and is conducive to improving the quality and efficiency of the H. erinaceus industry.

Author Contributions

Z.L., Y.Y., H.W. and X.H. conceived and designed the project; Z.L., Y.Y., S.H., Y.-K.M., Z.-M.R., Y.W., Y.-K.Y., and S.-J.J. performed the experiments; Z.L., Y.-K.Y., S.H., and Y.-K.M. analyzed the date and wrote the manuscript. H.W. and X.H. revised the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the earmarked fund for Cross-Regional Cooperation Science and Technology Innovation Project for the Conservation and Utilization of Wild Edible and Medicinal Fungi Resources (YDZJ202402013CXJD), JLARS (JLARS-2025-060301) and Science and Technology Development Program Project of Jilin Province [grant numbers YDZJ202301ZYTS509].

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data will be made available on request.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to all the units and individuals who contributed to the article.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Horticulturae 11 01220 g001
Figure 1. Mycelial growth characteristics of H. erinaceus on various straw-based substrates. (A): Mycelial growth rates across different straw formulations. (B): Representative colony morphology at 20%, 30%, and 40% wood chip substitution levels. (Note: Different letters indicate significant differences, while the same letter indicates no significant difference. (p < 0.05)).
Figure 1. Mycelial growth characteristics of H. erinaceus on various straw-based substrates. (A): Mycelial growth rates across different straw formulations. (B): Representative colony morphology at 20%, 30%, and 40% wood chip substitution levels. (Note: Different letters indicate significant differences, while the same letter indicates no significant difference. (p < 0.05)).
Horticulturae 11 01220 g001
Table 1. List of substrates and contents of each formula.
Table 1. List of substrates and contents of each formula.
NumberFormula
CKSawdust (79%)
1Rice Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
2Rice Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
3Rice Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
4Rice Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
5Rice Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
6Rape Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
7Rape Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
8Rape Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
9Rape Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
10Rape Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
11Wheat Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
12Wheat Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
13Wheat Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
14Wheat Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
15Wheat Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
16Soybean Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
17Soybean Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
18Soybean Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
19Soybean Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
20Soybean Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
21Peanut Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
22Peanut Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
23Peanut Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
24Peanut Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
25Peanut Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
26Corn Straw (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
27Corn Straw (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
28Corn Straw (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
29Corn Straw (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
30Corn Straw (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
31Corn Cob (10%) + Sawdust (69%)
32Corn Cob (20%) + Sawdust (59%)
33Corn Cob (30%) + Sawdust (49%)
34Corn Cob (40%) + Sawdust (39%)
35Corn Cob (50%) + Sawdust (29%)
Note: All formulas contain fixed supplements: Wheat Bran (18%) + Corn Flour (2%) + Gypsum (1%). All formulas have a moisture content of 65%.
Table 2. Growth of H. erinaceus hyphae in cultivation bags.
Table 2. Growth of H. erinaceus hyphae in cultivation bags.
NumberFormula CompositionMycelial Germination Time (d)Mycelium Full Bag Days (d)
CKCK3 ± 133 ± 2
1Corn straw 20%3 ± 131 ± 2
2Corn straw 30%3 ± 129 ± 2
3Corn straw 40%2 ± 128 ± 2
4Soybean straw 20%3 ± 132 ± 2
5Soybean straw 30%3 ± 130 ± 2
6Soybean straw 40%2 ± 128 ± 2
7Rapeseed straw 20%3 ± 132 ± 2
8Rapeseed straw 30%2 ± 131 ± 2
9Rapeseed straw 40%2 ± 130 ± 2
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Lu, Z.; Yang, Y.; Hu, S.; Ma, Y.-K.; Ren, Z.-M.; Wang, Y.; Yang, Y.-K.; Ji, S.-J.; Wang, H.; Huang, X. The Agronomic Traits Differences in Hericium erinaceus Cultivated with Different Straw Formulations by Replacing Wood with Straw. Horticulturae 2025, 11, 1220. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101220

AMA Style

Lu Z, Yang Y, Hu S, Ma Y-K, Ren Z-M, Wang Y, Yang Y-K, Ji S-J, Wang H, Huang X. The Agronomic Traits Differences in Hericium erinaceus Cultivated with Different Straw Formulations by Replacing Wood with Straw. Horticulturae. 2025; 11(10):1220. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101220

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lu, Zhu, Yang Yang, Shuang Hu, Yu-Kun Ma, Zi-Ming Ren, Yue Wang, Ying-Kun Yang, Shu-Juan Ji, Huan Wang, and Xiao Huang. 2025. "The Agronomic Traits Differences in Hericium erinaceus Cultivated with Different Straw Formulations by Replacing Wood with Straw" Horticulturae 11, no. 10: 1220. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101220

APA Style

Lu, Z., Yang, Y., Hu, S., Ma, Y.-K., Ren, Z.-M., Wang, Y., Yang, Y.-K., Ji, S.-J., Wang, H., & Huang, X. (2025). The Agronomic Traits Differences in Hericium erinaceus Cultivated with Different Straw Formulations by Replacing Wood with Straw. Horticulturae, 11(10), 1220. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11101220

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