We investigated the effect of different media components on the characteristics and productivity of Lentinula edodes cultivated in sawdust. Ten substrates were used for this study. Soybean and cotton seed meal were unsuitable substrates as fungal mycelia did not grow to maturity during the incubation period. Lentinula edodes (NIFoS culture number 2462) was grown on the ten substrates, and soybean hull, mixed medium, cotton seed hull and corn grain showed greater effect on the productivity than wheat bran. However, wheat bran induced higher productivity in NIFoS 2778 than the other substrates. Sawdust medium with soybean meal produced smaller fruiting bodies than the other substrates. In contrast, corn meal media produced larger mushrooms than the other substrates. The external characteristics of the mushrooms varied based on the substrates upon which they were grown. This is not surprising given that the substrates differed with respect to carbohydrate and protein content, e.g., cotton seed and soybean meal contained a higher crude protein and crude ash than the other substrates tested.