OPTIMIZATION AND UTILIZATION OF VARIOUS SUBSTRATES FOR PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS PRODUCTION

Abstract

With growing recognition of the nutritional and medicinal benefits of mushrooms, there's been a surge in interest in their production and consumption. This research investigation aims to investigate the impact of different substrates, composed individually or through various mix ratios of wheat straws, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, and coco-peat, on the growth, yield, and related parameters of oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushrooms. The experiment, carried out between August to November 2023, included six different treatments (T1-T6), each replicated three times, using a randomized complete design. Quantitative data were gathered and analysed, revealing that the shortest spawn running duration for complete colonization was observed in T1 (12 days), while the longest was in T4 (17.66 days). Treatment T3 and T4 exhibited the shortest duration from colonization to primordial formation (2.5 days), whereas T5 took the longest (4 days). The largest cap diameter (8.46 cm) was found in mushrooms grown on T3, while the smallest (4.26 cm) was on T5. The shortest stipe length was noted in mushrooms from T5 (2.16 cm), and the longest in T3 (3.26 cm). T1 had the highest number of fruits (20.33), while T5 had the lowest (12.33). The highest biological efficiencies were observed in T1, which used substrates composed of wheat straw only followed by T3 which used substrates composed of wheat straw and sawdust in combination, suggesting their suitability for pilot or large-scale production of oyster mushrooms.