Abstract

CULTIVATION OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS FLORIDA)

M. Manoranjitham*, T. Hemalatha, V. Pachamalai

ABSTRACT

Oyster mushroom is essentially an edible mushroom. The term oyster mushroom originated from Latin [Pleurotus - sideways, oyster - shape of the cap], which specifically refers to the shape of the fruiting body and the sideways growth of the stem with respect to the cap. An edible mushroom belongs to the wide range of Division –Basidiomycota and Kingdom– Fungi. Oyster mushroom is commonly called as white oyster mushroom or “Dhingri” in India. It is the third most important cultured mushroom in the World. Oyster mushroom is easy to cultivate in the countryside by using the hanging technique. The purpose of the study is to cultivate oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus florida) using the cultivated spawn. The cultivated spawn was taken and nurtured on the substrate rice straw by filling the substrate in the form of layers and placing the spawn on the edges of the cultivation bag. These cultivation bags were hung with a rope. The results indicated that spawn developed in flow bags in ten to fourteen days and pinheads appeared on the 19th – 20th days. Pinheads twisted into a leaf-like structure on the 23rd day, and the first yield was made at about 26 – 28 days. The second yield was for one more 4 or 5 days. In conclusion, this study established that the Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus florida, grew well in rice straw when compared with other substrates, and it is also confirmed that the spawn produced from wheat has more potential than other spawns.

Keywords: Mushroom cultivation, oyster mushroom, Pleurotus florida, culture spawn, Rice straw.