Shiitake 3790 Colonized Agar Plate
Shiitake 3790 Colonized Agar Plate is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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Description
Description
A fully colonized Shiitake strain 3790 (Lentinula edodes) agar plate, grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated genetics — the same commercial strain we use in our Shiitake liquid culture syringes and grow kits.
Each plate is produced at our Illinois lab on standard malt extract agar (MEA), fully colonized before it ships, and held in inventory rather than made to order, so it ships within 1 business day. Multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 business days so we can pack everything together.
- 90mmPolypropylene dish
- ~18mLMEA agar
- 14–21 daysColonizes agar
- 50–70°FFruiting temp
- 1 dayShips within
Why growers pick Shiitake 3790
Strain 3790 is one of the most widely respected commercial Shiitake genetics. Developed for large-scale cultivation on supplemented hardwood sawdust, it's a benchmark strain for serious gourmet growers because it consistently delivers:
- Vigorous, reliable fruiting – fruits readily across a wide temperature range, with less finicky requirements than many wild or specialty strains
- Dense, meaty caps – classic dark brown color, with characteristic radial cracking when grown cool
- Strong yields per block – high biological efficiency compared with ornamental or wild-isolated strains
- Multiple flushes – well-managed blocks can produce 2–3 flushes over several months
- Broad substrate compatibility – performs well on supplemented hardwood sawdust, hardwood pellets, and masters mix
Working with Shiitake on agar
Shiitake behaves differently from oyster species on agar, and knowing what's normal is the key to working with it:
- Slower growth – typically 14–21 days to full colonization, versus 5–10 days for oysters
- Brown pigment – the mycelium browns as it matures; this is normal, not contamination
- "Popcorn" texture – mature plates often show raised, lumpy growth as the mycelium prepares to fruit
- Dense, leathery mycelium – harder to slice than fluffy oyster mycelium, but very robust during transfer
What's included
- One 90mm polypropylene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed for sterility during transit
- ~18mL malt extract agar (MEA), our standard formulation for gourmet species
- Fully colonized with Shiitake 3790 mycelium, often showing characteristic brown pigmentation (typically 90–100% coverage at ship time)
- 1st-generation isolated genetics from our master culture
- Lab-inspected for contamination before it ships
When your plate arrives
- Inspect it within 24 hours. Minor condensation on the lid is normal and harmless.
- Store it cool and dark. Keep the sealed plate at 55–70°F until you're ready to use it.
- Work clean. Open the plate only under a still-air box or laminar flow hood.
- Make your transfer. Cut a small wedge, about the size of a pencil eraser, and move it to grain, sawdust, liquid media, or fresh agar.
Shipping and storage: plates ship in insulated, padded packaging via USPS Priority Mail (typically 2–4 days in transit), with a cold pack included at no additional cost in summer months (May–September) or to hot-climate destinations. A sealed plate stays viable for 60–90 days at 55–70°F, or 6–9 months refrigerated at 35–40°F.
What you can do with one plate
- Transfer to grain – place a wedge onto sterilized grain (rye, our 5-grain blend, etc.); Shiitake colonizes grain in 21–28 days at room temperature
- Transfer straight to sawdust – many experienced Shiitake growers skip grain and move agar wedges directly to sterilized supplemented hardwood sawdust
- Make liquid culture – drop agar wedges into sterile liquid media to produce your own LC
- Expand to more plates – divide one plate into 5–8 fresh plates for a long-term genetic library
- Isolate strong sectors – move the most vigorous growth to a fresh plate to refine your genetics over generations
Shatterproof polypropylene plates
Every Shiitake plate ships in a 90mm polypropylene Petri dish rather than the standard polystyrene. Polypropylene flexes under impact instead of cracking — and a cracked plate isn't just damaged, it's a contamination risk, since the crack breaks the parafilm seal. Our Lion's Mane plate is the one exception: it uses clear polystyrene for contrast against black agar.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | Lentinula edodes (Shiitake), strain 3790 |
| Genetics | 1st-generation isolate from our master culture |
| Plate | 90mm polypropylene Petri dish, parafilm-sealed |
| Agar | ~18mL standard malt extract agar (MEA) |
| Sterility | Poured and inoculated under HEPA-filtered laminar flow |
| Mycelium appearance | White when young, browning with age; dense, leathery, often "popcorn" textured |
| Colonization speed on agar | Moderate — typically 14–21 days at 70–75°F |
| Preferred grain | Rye or our 5-grain blend (for grain-to-block method) |
| Fruiting substrate | Supplemented hardwood sawdust (preferred), hardwood pellets, oak/sugar maple/beech logs |
| Block colonization time | 2–4 months on sawdust blocks (includes browning/maturation phase) |
| Fruiting temperature | 50–70°F (cooler temps produce the classic cracked-cap appearance) |
| Cap color | Light to dark brown; develops white radial cracks when cool and dry |
| Difficulty | Intermediate — slower than oysters but very rewarding |
| Shelf life (sealed) | 60–90 days at 55–70°F; 6–9 months at 35–40°F |
| Ships | Within 1 business day |
Sterility and quality
Every plate is poured, inoculated, and inspected at Myco Labs under HEPA-filtered laminar flow, sealed with parafilm immediately after inoculation, and incubated in a dedicated clean room until fully colonized. Each plate is visually inspected before it's approved for shipment, and for Shiitake our inspectors are trained to tell healthy mature browning from contamination.
Same genetics, other formatsWant the strain ready to inject? The Shiitake liquid culture syringe carries the same genetics, and the Shiitake grow kit lets you fruit the same strain without any lab work.
FAQ
What is Shiitake strain 3790 and why does it matter?
Strain 3790 is one of the most widely cultivated commercial Shiitake genetics. It was developed and refined for large-scale cultivation on supplemented hardwood sawdust blocks, where it's known for vigorous fruiting, dense caps, and consistent yields.
My Shiitake plate is turning brown — is it contaminated?
Probably not. Healthy Shiitake mycelium develops a brown pigment as it matures, often starting in patches and spreading across the plate, and it may develop a raised, lumpy "popcorn" texture as it prepares to fruit. Both are healthy signs. True contamination usually appears as green or black fuzzy mold, a pink or orange bacterial sheen, or a sour smell. When in doubt, contact us with a photo.
Why does Shiitake take so much longer than oysters?
Shiitake is a wood-decomposing fungus adapted to slow growth through dense hardwood. On agar it colonizes in 14–21 days versus 5–10 days for oysters, and on sawdust blocks it takes 2–4 months to colonize and mature. The trade-off is denser, more flavorful fruit bodies with a longer shelf life.
Can I transfer this plate directly to a hardwood sawdust block?
Yes — many experienced Shiitake growers skip grain spawn and transfer agar wedges directly to sterilized supplemented hardwood sawdust blocks. Cut several small wedges from the plate, distribute them through the block, then seal and incubate. Colonization takes 2–4 months, with a final 2–4 week browning phase before fruiting.
Are these the same genetics as your liquid culture syringes and grow kits?
Yes. Every Shiitake plate is grown from our master culture and 1st-generation isolated strain 3790 — the same genetics in our Shiitake LC syringes and grow kits.
How fast do these ship compared to other agar plate sellers?
Within 1 business day. Most agar plate sellers make plates to order, which can mean waiting 2–4 weeks for a plate to be poured, inoculated, and colonized. Ours are produced on a rolling schedule and held in inventory fully colonized. Multi-item orders may take an additional 1–2 business days so we can pack everything together.
Why do you use polypropylene plates instead of polystyrene?
Polypropylene flexes under impact instead of cracking. A cracked plate isn't just damaged — it's a contamination risk, since the crack breaks the parafilm seal and exposes the culture. Our Lion's Mane plates are the one exception: they use clear polystyrene for maximum contrast against black agar.
How long will the plate stay viable?
An unopened, parafilm-sealed plate stored at 55–70°F in a dark place stays viable for 60–90 days. Refrigerated at 35–40°F, it stays viable for 6–9 months. Shiitake is one of the more refrigeration-tolerant species in our lineup, which makes it well suited to long-term library storage.
What if my plate arrives contaminated or damaged?
We guarantee every plate ships in clean, fully colonized condition. If you receive a contaminated or damaged plate, contact us within 5 days of delivery with a photo and we'll replace it free of charge. Mature brown pigmentation on Shiitake is normal and not a defect.
