This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the growth of six strains of Lentinula edodes (LE1, LE2, LE3, LE4, LE5 and LE6) in five culture media and characterizes strains for enzyme production. The culture medium that provided the best mycelial growth of the strains was used for semi-quantitative tests of ligninase and cellulase activity. Samples for enzyme assays and determination of total proteins were collected at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of incubation to building an enzymatic curve. The strain LE5 is the most aggressive, with higher mycelial growth rate and mycelial mass production in the basic medium added of 0.01% yeast extract. The addition of biotin and thiamine to the culture medium is not sufficient to substitute yeast extract. The performance of the strains with respect to the production of cellulase and ligninase was different. The LE6 strain excelled in the production of laccase, manganese peroxidase and β-glucosidase with 28 days of incubation and endo-β-1,4-glucanase with 14 days of incubation, while strain LE5 excelled in the production of exo-β-1,4-glucanase with 7 days of incubation.