Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
Mukesh Kumar Prajapati, Sobita Simon and Abhilasha A Lal

Abstract:
Mushrooms are recognized as nutritionally functional food and a source of physiologically beneficial and nontoxic medicines. Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) is an efficient lignin degrading mushroom and can grow well on different types of lignocellulosic materials including agricultural and forest waste. Cultivation technique for oyster mushroom is very simple and the production cost is low, which gives consistent growth with high biological efficiency. Plant derivatives have shown considerable promise as an effective alternative of chemicals. To develop a suitable method for substrates treatment, 13 different plants extract (leaf powder) were mixed with wheat straw. The most effective treatment was found in T₅ (Wheat straw + Beal leaves) significantly superior among all, for cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus Florida). The duration of first mycelium colonization, fruiting and harvesting was shorter in (Wheat straw + Beal leaves 14 days) followed by other substrates and longer in T₁₃ (Wheat straw + Betel vine leaves-22 days). Longer stipe length, width of pileus, biological efficiency (%) and yield was significantly increased in Wheat straw + bael leaf followed by other substrates.