AbstractThe chitin content ofLentinus edodesmycelium was studied in liquid cultures in order to evaluate the suitability of chitin as a fungal growth parameter in solid state cultures. The influence of ageing, medium composition and growth conditions on the glucosamine content ofL. edodeswere observed. Low glucosamine values were found in correspondence with early growth while, by the end of the exponential phase, the mycelial glucosamine level reached a maximum constant value. The supplementation of the liquid synthetic medium with corn straw (Zea mais) extract, while inducing extracellular phenoloxidase activities, did not influence significantly the glucosamine content ofL. edodesmycelium. Mycelium grown under stationary conditions showed a lower content of glucosamine when compared with mycelium grown under shaking conditions.