Conversion of Wanza (Cordia africana) leafs-litter and Different Proportion of Cotton Seed Waste and Wheat Bran to Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Biomass

Abstract

At present conversion of agricultural and forestry by products into resources has been given priority from governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Production of mushroom by using locally available organic wastes is one of the microbial biotechnologies which able to produce nutritionally and medically valuable food items from those refuses. The present study was under taken to evaluate the bioconversion ability of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) of substrate composed from wanza (Cordia africana) leaves litters with the different proportion of cotton seed waste and wheat bran to the nutrient rich and medically important mushroom biomass. The oyster mushroom culture was developed on potato dextrose agar and the spawn was prepared on yellow colored sorghum grain. The substrate was mixed, sterilized and inoculated with 5% mother spawn and inoculated bags were arranged in completely randomized design in triplicate in the mushroom house. All the quantitative data collected were analyzed using ANOVA by using by the help of SPSS computer software for window version 20. The substrate composed from Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran: cotton seed waste (80:10:10) and Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70:30) showed the fastest mycelial extension (0.45 cm/day) and the substrate composed from Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) showed slowest mycelial extension (0.34 cm/day) and the same treatments showed shortest incubation periods (75 days) and the substrate composed from Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) had longer (105 days) for overall cycle of the mushroom production.. Substrate received Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70:30) showed highest fresh weight in 1st flush (255g)) and substrate composed from Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) gave least fresh weight (50g).. Maximum number (11) of bunches was recorded on Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70:30) and the least on Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) (3). Pilus diameter was maximum from Cordia fricana dry leaves: wheat bran (90:10) (7.0cm) and the minimum (4.5cm) was noticed from Cordia africana dry leaves:cotton seed waste(70:30). The highest numbers of fruiting bodies were collected from Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70:30) (57) and the least from Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) (20). Higher number of aborts was recorded on substrate composed from Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70: 30) (57) and the lowest on Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) (20). The highest total wet/fresh weight of matures and biological efficiency were recorded from Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70: 30) 34068% respectively and the least on Cordia africana dry leaves: cotton seed waste (70:30) 100 20%, respectively. The results observed in this study clearly showed that the Cordia africana dry leaves supplement with wheat bran and cotton seed waste together or alone supported the growth of oyster mushroom but maximum total fresh weight and biological efficiency were recorded from Cordia africana dry leaves: wheat bran (70: 30) 34068% so then this combination of substrate mixture recommended for commercial production of oyster mushroom.