Vir Chandra Singh Garhwali College of Horticulture, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand-246 123, India.
*E mail: mishra_sk1972@indiatimes.com.
The performance of Pleurotus species and different substrates were studied on spawn run, yield, number, length, width, protein, carbohydrate and fat content of mushroom. Out of eight species, P. ostreatus efficiently colonized paddy straw, wheat straw, forest grass, pine leaves and kodo husk within 74–95 days followed by P. flabellatus. The interaction of P. flabellatus with kodo husk and forest grass produced highest yield by 498.75 and 406.25 g/2Kg wet substrate, respectively with maximum 55 fruits. All interactions of treatments were at par in view of length and width of mushroom fruits. P. flabellatus on wheat straw, P. flabellatus on pine leaves produced highest amount of crude protein measuring between 31–32%. However, P. ostreatus on paddy straw and P. flabellatus on forest grass were superior in carbohydrate (61.76%) and fat (2.04%) content respectively. Among the species, outstanding performance of P. flabellatus was recorded with yield (327.3 g), numbers (55.75), length (6.7 cm), width (5.58 cm), protein (24.88%) and fat (1.11%) but P. ostreatus was stood with highest carbohydrate content (45.29%). Out of five substrates, kodo husk for yield (308.41g) and protein (26.26%); forest grass for numbers (41.08), width (6.38%) and fat (1.44%) and paddy straw for length (6.61 cm) and carbohydrate (55.53%) were commendable. The substrate of pine leaves was inferior in all respects.
Pleurotus species, substrates and proximate composition
