Optimizing Cultivation of Pleurotus Eryngii Through Environmental Condition Modelling: Effects on Yield and Efficiency

Pleurotus eryngii is a mushroom forming saprophyte belonging to Basidiomycetes. Its survival and multiplication are influenced by different environmental factors such as temperature, relative humidity, fresh air, light and CO₂ concentration which may act individually or synergistically. Therefore, suitable technology for successful cultivation of King Oyster mushroom needs to be standardized. Based on these factors, three environmental conditions models – 1, 2, and 3 were innovated in present study. These environmental condition models were used for cultivation of two strains – DMRP-120 and DMRP-135 of P. eryngii. Three substrates i.e. – paddy straw + sawdust, sugarcane bagasse + sawdust and sawdust alone were used to carry out the experiments during the study. The results revealed that sawdust and environment conditions model -1 were found to be the best and resulted in maximum yield on sawdust followed by paddy straw and sugarcane bagasse in combination with sawdust. As compared to model-1, 12-22% low productivity was observed on sawdust combination substrate under environmental conditions models 2 and 3. The environmental conditions model-1 provided following congenial environmental factors- temperature – 24 ±2°C (Spawn Running), 17-18±2°C (Pin head or Primordia Formation), 14-16±2°C (Fresh fruiting body for harvest); humidity – 90-95% (SR), 85-90% (PF), and 70-75% (FBH); CO₂ concentration (ppm) 5000- 20,000 (SR), <1000 (PF), and <1000 (FBH); Fresh air (hrs. /day) – nil (SR), 4-5 (PF), and 5-6 (FBH); and Light (hrs. /day) – nil (SR), 3-4 (PF) and 4-5 (FBH) for achieving higher productivity. Therefore, these standardized environmental conditions models with congenial environmental factors are crucial to boost up commercial production by growers for achieving higher quality and productivity of king oyster mushrooms.