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Comparative Study on the Effect of Diverse Substrates on the Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. (Oyster Mushroom)

Correspondence Tolulope Ewekeye, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University, Nigeria. Email:tolulope.ewekeye@lasu.edu.ng Telephone: +234(0)8028783539 Abstract: Introduction: Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster mushroom) is an eatable mushroom with an exceptional aroma and savour. It is suited to be cultivated in temperate as well as tropical climate. Aims: This research was aimed at comparing the effects of different substrates on the cultivation of P. ostreatus. Materials and Methods: The substrates used in this study were cornhusk, sawdust with wood shavings, banana leaves and a combination of all the substrates. All substrates bags were inoculated with 52.5 mL teaspoon of spawn, autoclaved at 1210C and 1.1 kg/cm2 pressure and incubated under appropriate conditions both at the cropping room and fruiting chambers. The linear mycelia growth and biological efficiency were determined. Results: The time for spawn running varied between 20-60 days and harvesting took between 60-85 days. The maximum linear mycelia growth after spawn running, were observed on cornhusk and the longest mycelia growth time (60 days) was observed on sawdust after spawn running. The highest yield of P. ostreatus was obtained in cornhusk treatments with an average weight value of 92.1 g while the banana leaves treatment gave no yield at all. The yield for combination of all substrates was 23 g and 22.3 g was obtained on sawdust. The highest biological efficiency of 67.03% was obtained on cornhusk and the lowest (16.23%) was obtained on sawdust. Conclusion: Among all the substrates, cornhusk was established as the most effective substrate for the production of P. ostreatus as it best supported both the spawn running phase and the yield phase.