Performance evaluation of substrates for cultivation of blue oyster mushroom Aditya*, Jarial R.S., Jarial Kumud Department of Plant Pathology, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur-177001, Himachal Pradesh, India *Corresponding author: adityabhatia29@gmail.com
Online published on 1 October, 2022. Abstract The study was conducted to evaluate the best spawn, spawn dose and suitable growing substrates for the cultivation of blue oyster mushroom [Hypsizygus ulmarius (Bull.: Fr.) Redhead] under sub-tropical zones of Himachal Pradesh. Bajra grains were found as an excellent substrate for spawn preparation as it supports fast (11.00 days) and thick mycelial growth along with high yield (768.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) and biological efficiency (128.00%) on wheat straw. Spawn dose of bajra grains spawn @5.00 per cent (w/w basis) on wheat straw resulted in minimum spawn run period (12.62 days), maximum number of fruit bodies (42.33), high yield (794.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) and biological efficiency (132.33%). Locally available seven different substrates viz., wheat straw, maize straw, pine needles (Pinus roxburghii), lantana leaves (Lantana camara), curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), saw dust and wood chips were evaluated for different yield parameters, yield and biological efficiency. Highest yield (744.00 g/0.6 kg dry substrate and biological efficiency 124.00%) was obtained from wheat straw substrate followed by maize straw (679.50 g/0.6 kg dry substrate with 113.20%). Lowest yield (436.79 g/0.6 kg dry substrate) of mushroom was obtained in wood chips substrate with 72.80 per cent biological efficiency. Top Keywords Hypsizygus ulmarius, Blue oyster mushroom, Substrates, Biological efficiency. Top |