Strain Improvement of Oyster Mushrooms

Abstract

In Sri Lanka, only a few mushroom species are popular among growers and among these, Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus sp.) are the mostly cultivated mushrooms at present. There is a growing demand for new and improved mushroom strains with better characters and yield. The present study was conducted with the objective of developing improved mushroom strains using duel culture hybridization technique. Hybridization was achieved by dqel. culture technique of monospore cultures of two strains (Lanka Oyster and American Oyster) of Oyster mushrooms {Pleurotus ostriatus). The hybridized length and the growth of the hybridized mycelium under different temperature levels were studied to select the best strains. Among twenty five combinations of mono spore cultures, twenty three hybridized successfully. Temperature 28°C supported maximum growth of hybridized mycelia compared to other temperature levels. A3L3, A4L1, A4L4, A3L4 and A2L4 monospore combinations were selected as better strains based on their higher growth rate. Colonization of spawn medium and inoculated bags were more or less same in those five selected hybrid strains. However, noticeable differences observed with days for pinhead formation and average number of fruiting bodies formed. No considerable differences were seen in morphological characteristics of fruit bodies among selected strains. Low biological efficiency was noticed in all five strains indicating their unsuitability to grow on saw dust medium.