Evaluation of Different Grain Substrates for Spawn Production and Yield Performance of Blue Oyster Mushroom [Hypsizygus ulmarius (Bull.: Fr.) Redhead] through Bio-Conversion of Agri/Industrial Wastes

Blue oyster mushroom is a novel species that is widely gaining popularity nowadays owing to its simple and low production technology with high biological efficiency. Since spawn serves as the planting materials in mushroom production and its quality is the most important factor for the successful cultivation of any edible mushroom. Hence, the study was undertaken to determine with the objective to find out the best grain spawn for getting early and high yield crop of Hypsizygus ulmarius on different substrates. Seven locally available grains viz ; barley, bajra, paddy, wheat, oat, maize and sorghum were used for spawn production. Bajra grains were found as an excellent substrate for spawn preparation as it supports faster and enhanced growth (11 days) followed by sorghum, wheat and maize grain substrate. Linear growth (50.52 mm) and growth rate (0.39 mm/h) of the fungus was found maximum on bajra grains as compared to other grains. Maximum yield (640.00 g/0.5 Kg substrate) and biological efficiency (128.00 %) was also recorded in bajra grains spawn on wheat straw substrate closely followed by wheat grains spawn on the same substrate. The performance of H. ulmarius on wood chips, curry leaves and saw dust was found minimum when spawned with either of the grain spawn.