Assessment of heavy metal threat in agaricus bisporus mushrooms cultivated from water hyacinth weed of Kolleru lake, Andhra pradesh-India

Verification of heavy metal threat owing to utilization of water hyacinth of Kolleru Lake as mushroom growth substrate instead of paddy straw has formed the objective of this investigation. Using ICP-MS, ten trace elements in Agaricus bisporus were determined. The mean values of trace elements in the mushrooms cultivated from the water hyacinth shoots were 16.72±0.6, 7.448±0.368, 46.86±3.52, 0.146±0.6, 0.756±0.054, 16.18±2.96, 1596±81.6, 1.434±0.074, 0.564±0.056 and 0.64±0.16 mg/kg for Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, Fe, Ni, Co and arsenic respectively. The mushrooms cultivated from the paddy straw formed the controls for comparison purpose. Observed statistically no significant differences of mean values of metals between the experimental and control groups and found the heavy metals consents within the prescribed limits of safety standards. Hence, recommended the utilization of water hyacinth weed as a substitute to paddy straw for A. bisporus mushroom cultivation.