Evaluation of different substrates for spawn preparation of monkey head mushroom

The suitable substrate for spawn preparation of monkey head mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) on different grains viz. wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), rice (Oryza sativa), rice husk, bajra (Pennisetum glaucum) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) were tested. After evaluating the substrates it was found that Hericium erinaceus mycelium grown well at all the substrates used for the spawn preparation. Among the substrates, wheat grains took lesser number of days for complete colonization i.e. 13.33 followed by barley 15.33 days, pearl millet 16.33 days and rice grains 17.00 days and the maximum number of days were taken on rice husk i.e. 24.00 days. It was also observed that the wheat straw supplemented with 5% wheat bran supported the maximum yield 71.67 g with highest BE (biological efficiency) of 14.33% followed by sugarcane bagasse (yield 58.67 g and BE 11.73%), paddy straw (yield 48.67 g and BE 9.73%) and sawdust (yield 41.67 g and BE 8.33%) and minimum yield i.e. 32.33 g with BE of 6.47% were recorded from cocopeat coir. From these results it was observed that wheat straw supplemented with 5% wheat bran was the best substrate for cultivation of monkey head mushroom with highest yield and BE. The yield from low cost mushroom house was higher ( 83.00g with BE of 16.60%) than pakka/high cost mushroom farm (71.67g and 14.33%).