Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Jin-Torng Peng, Chien-Ming Lee and Ying-Fung Tsai

Abstract:

Effects of different organic supplements on the yield, biological efficiency (B.E), and production efficiency (P.E) as well as some fruiting behaviors of the King oyster mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, were assessed and observed. The mushroom was grown by using bottle cultivation technology. Sawdust from India-charcoal trema (Trema orientalis) was used as basic raw material of substrate. The organic supplements and their percentage by dry weight in the substrate were 1). 32% of rice bran and 8.2% of cow-pea waste; 2). 50% of rice bran; 3). 20% of soybean meal; 4). 50% of corn meal and 5). 50% of wheat bran. Fairly good mushroom quality was observed in the substrates of the formulas 1 and 3, however their average yield, B.E and P.E were significantly lower than those seen in the substrates of all other three formulas. Besides, it took longer time from starting cooling to first picking and to harvesting 90% of total yield. Therefore, the two substrates were apparently not suitable for growing King oyster mushroom. The substrate of the formula 2 easily gave too many fruiting bodies in one bottle resulting in the formation of many small and low quality mushrooms. However, its average yield, B.E and P.E were observed to be significantly higher than those seen in all other substrates. In addition it took least time from starting cooling to first picking and to harvesting 90% of total yield. The average yield, B.E and P.E seen in the substrate of the formula 4 were significantly higher than those seen in the substrate of the formula 5. However, the times taken for the two substrates from starting cooling to first picking and to harvesting 90% of total yield were not significantly different when the experiment was conducted with 48 or 12 bottles of substrate in one replicate. The substrate of the formula 5 gave the best mushroom quality among the five substrates, it produced few fruiting bodies with white long stalk and with appropriate diameter of stalks and caps. The above experimental results can be used as the basis for designing a better formula of substrate for growing the King oyster mushroom. Both advantages and disadvantages can be seen in the three organic supplements -- rice bran, corn meal and wheat bran. It is apparently possible to improve both yield and quality of the mushroom and to increase cropping cycles by working out the best combination of these three organic supplements in the future.

Key words:Organic supplements, Pleurotus eryngii, Bottle cultivation technology

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