Abstract:
Mushroom cultivation is a profitable agribusiness and use of low cost agricultural
byproducts helps in improving the economic status of the farmer. The performances of
two varieties of Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), American oyster and Lanka
oyster at seed production were studied in different spawn substrates along with paddy
{Oryza sativa) as the standard medium. Finger millet (Eleucine coracana), bajiri
(Seteria italica\ refused tea (Camellia sinensis), banana stems {Musa accuminata) and
aricanut soft stem (Araca catechu) were used as different media alone or mixed with
saw dust (Albezia molloccana) as 1:1 ratio. In another study with fruit production, three
compost mixtures, including saw dust, paddy straw and saw dust: paddy straw 1:1 ratio
were used as the common media along with other ingredients. The mycelial growth,
time taken for fruiting body formation and mushroom yield during two harvests were
recorded. Significantly weak mycelial colonization was observed with paddy. Finger
millet alone or in the ratio of 1:1 with saw dust showed better growth of the fungus
compared to other media tested. There was a significant variation in mycelial growth
corresponding to each variety with each compost combination in the cropping media
experiment. The highest mycelial growth was recorded in American oyster on saw dust
while the lowest was recorded in Lanka oyster on rice straw. Pin head formation in saw
dust medium in both species and harvests was comparatively high. Maximum yield was
recorded in sawdust + rice straw medium grown with American oyster in both harvests
(133.067 g and 108.137 g, respectively) while rice straw alone supported the lowest
yield with both American oyster and Lanka oyster. It can be concluded from the
experiment that finger millet as the most suitable substrate for spawn production and
saw dust as the most suitable cropping substrate of both mushroom varieties.
