Comparison of growth characteristics and yield of two types of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) on different simple and complex cellulosic residues

This study investigated the impact of various plant cellulosic residues as substrates and co-substrates on the growth and yield of two oyster mushroom species: Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Pleurotus eryngii (PE). The research involved two parallel experiments, comparing sugarcane bagasse (S1) and sawdust (S2) as substrates with three co-substrate treatments: no addition (W0), 20% sunflower seed hulls (W1), and 20% peanut shells (W2). The substrates were sterilized using hot water with the 2% CaCO₃ solution and inoculated with 3% spawn. Mushrooms were grown in 1 kg polyethylene bags within a specially designed growth chamber under controlled conditions.A total of six treatments were evaluated: S1W0, S2W0, S1W1, S2W1, S1W2, and S2W2, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replications. Results demonstrated that P. ostreatus consistently outperformed P. eryngii in growth and yield. The S1W0 treatment for P. ostreatus showed the highest biological efficiency (90.40%), flush count (4.66), fruiting body count (8.33), and crop cycle (71.67 days). In the S1W1 treatment, P. ostreatus produced the highest total yield (307 g), the greatest number of fruiting bodies (8.33), and the fastest mycelial colonization was (43 days). This highlights the efficiency of sunflower seed hulls as a co-substrate in enhancing growth. On the other hand, P. eryngii displayed significant results under the S1W1 treatment, achieving a total yield of 169.7 g and higher fruiting body weight 84.83 g. For P. ostreatus, the heaviest fruiting bodies were observed in the S2W2 treatment, weighing 48.42 g on average, while P. eryngii had the highest flush weight (123 g) in the S1W2 treatment. The results suggest that sugarcane bagasse (S1) combined with sunflower seed hulls (W1) is the most optimal substrate combination for P. ostreatus, providing superior yield, biological efficiency, and faster growth. This study highlights the potential of utilizing agricultural residues like sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed hulls for sustainable mushroom production. The use of waste materials as substrates could also contribute to reducing agricultural residue waste, presenting both economic and environmental benefits. The findings also suggest that P. eryngii may require specific conditions to achieve optimal productivity, although its response to certain treatments presents promising possibilities for further research and optimization. Key words: Substrate, Co-substrates, Spawning, Pin-head, Mycelium, Biological efficiency, Agricultural residues