Yield and quality responses of Pleurotus citrinopileatus to varying ratio of common reed and corn cob in cultivation substrates

Common reed ( Phragmites australis, abbreviating reed) from saline-alkaline wetlands represents an underutilized lignocellulosic biomass with potential as an alternative substrate for edible mushroom cultivation. However, the effects of reed-to-corn cob ratios on both the yield and nutritional quality of the golden oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus citrinopileatus ) remain poorly understood. This study evaluated five substrate formulations with reed replacing corn cobs at ratios of 0, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, and 1 (LY0-LY4) for P. citrinopileatus cultivation. Yield parameters, organic nutrients, and secondary metabolites were determined across two harvest flushes. The 1:1 (LY2) and 2:1 (LY3) reed-to-corn cob mixtures achieved the highest cumulative biological efficiencies (up to 92%), significantly outperforming single-substrate controls. Redundancy analysis revealed that harvest flush exerted a stronger influence on quality differentiation than substrate composition. First-flush fruiting bodies exhibited higher crude protein and total amino acid contents, while second-flush mushrooms showed greater triterpenoid accumulation. These findings demonstrate that mixed reed-corn cob substrates can effectively enhance mushroom production, and that harvest flush should be considered a critical factor when targeting specific nutritional or functional attributes. This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing substrate formulations and harvest strategies in reed-based cultivation systems.