Abstract:
An experiment was carried out to find out the effect of different substrates and spawn packet
sizes on the growth and yield of pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) and to estimate
the rate of contamination of spawn packets. Among the selected 5 substrates namely rice
straw, mustard straw, saw dust, sugarcane bagasse and waste paper, the minimum days (15.43
days) for mycelium running was recorded in mustard straw whereas the maximum days
(18.93 days) required for mycelium running was recorded in waste paper. Number of
effective fruiting bodies was maximum at rice straw (21.43) and weight of individual fruiting
body was highest at waste paper (4.88g). The highest biological yield (83.36g) and biological
efficiency (76.76%) was recorded in rice straw, whereas the lowest biological yield (49.14g)
and biological efficiency (43.95%) was recorded in waste paper substrate. In case of 250g and
500g spawn packet size, days required for mycelium running, days required for primordia
formation and total harvest days was minimum in 250g substrate packet. The number of
effective fruiting body, weight of individual fruiting body was maximum in 500g spawn
packet. Maximum biological yield (79.44g) was recorded in 500g spawn packet whereas the
maximum biological efficiency (65.90%) was recorded in 250g spawn packet. Mustard straw
at 250g substrate/packet required minimum time (14.43 days) for mycelium running and
primordial formation (5.43 days) whereas waste paper at 500g substrate/packet required
maximum time for mycelium running (19.43 days) which was statistically similar with
sugarcane bagasse at 500g substrate/packet (19.29 days). Total harvesting day was highest
(49.57 days) both in waste paper and saw dust @ 500g substrate/packet. Rice straw at 500g
spawn packet gave maximum biological yield (103.14g). whereas rice straw at 250g spawn
packet gave maximum biological efficiency (84.76%) followed by rice straw at 500g spawn
packet (68.76%) and saw dust 250g spawn packet (68.75%). Total 3 fungi namely
Trichoderma harzianum, penicillium sp. and Aspergillus niger were isolated and identified.
Percent contamination of fungi gradually increased from 1
st
harvesting to 3
rd
harvesting stage.
Maximum severity of contamination 10.71% was observed in sugarcane bagasse at 500g
spawn packet during 3
rd
harvest.
