Impact of prevailing environmental conditions on growth and yield of different Pleurotus species

Abstract

Mushrooms are valuable healthy food in modern society. Oyster mushrooms represent basidiomycetous fungi, characterized by edible fruit bodies with eccentric stalk attached to the pileus that opens like an oyster shell during morphogenesis. These mushrooms namely Pleurotus species are described as 'food delicacies' because of their characteristic biting texture and flavour. The present investigation was under taken to find out the prevailing environmental conditions for growth and yield of twelve Pleurotus species. Impact of prevailing environmental conditions i.e. temperature (min., max.) and relative humidity on mycelial growth, pinhead initiation and cumulative sporophore weight of twelve species of Pleurotus was studied and data are presented in tables. August and September months gave fastest complete colonization of substrates and its required 8.90, 8.90 days respectively. Quickest (4.10 days) bud initiation was recorded in June. However it was delayed (5.50 days) in March month. The highest (426.25g) cumulative sporophore weight of Pleurotus species was obtained in September. Whereas, the lowest (209.00g) cumulative sporophore weight was obtained in May month.