World Rural Observations 2013;5(1) http://www.sciencepub.net/rural Yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries.) quelet, cultivated on different agro-forest wastes in Nigeria Jonathan SG1, Nwokolo VM1, Ekpo EN2 Mycology & Biotechnology unit, 1Department of Botany & Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria. 2Pathology Unit, Department of Forest Conservation & Protection. Forest Research Institute, Ibadan. Nigeria [email protected] Abstract: Yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries.) quelet, were monitored on four agro-industrial wastes, (coir fibre, oil palm waste, sawdust of Gmelina arborea and rice straw). The most abundant mineral element in P. pulmonarius was K (30.20mg/100g).This was obtained on rice straw at 10% concentration; while the least mineral element was Cu (0.006mg/100g). The highest values of Ca and Mg obtained were 3.90 and 2.67mg/100g respectively on sawdust and palm wastes. The values of Fe obtained, varies from 0.007 to 0.12mg/g at 10% and 40% of coir fibre. Manganese has values varying from 0.03mg/g for P. pulmonarius at 0% and 0.09mg/g at 40% RBL rice straw. Highest mean stipe length (6.68±0.49) was found in P. pulmonarius produced from rice straw while the least mean stipe length (4.08±2.16) was found on oil palm waste. The highest pileus diameter (7.08cm) was found on rice straw while the mean height obtained from the four substrates, were relatively close with values varying between 6.0 and 9.3cm. Rice straw produced the highest yield with total mean weight of 93.33±3.The implications of these observations are discussed. [Jonathan SG, Nwokolo VM, Ekpo EN. Yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fries.) quelet, cultivated on different agro-forest wastes in Nigeria. World Rural Observ 2013;5(1):22-30]. ISSN: 1944- 6543 (Print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (Online). http://www.sciencepub.net/rural. 5 Keywords: P.pulmonarius, fruitbodies, substrates, biological efficiency, food values. Introduction: materials litter and sometimes pollute our environment. In Nigeria, higher fungi including mushrooms Waste land and waste materials are useful in the are important constituents of forest produce. These cultivation of mushrooms. The media (substrate) for organisms grow on virtually all agro-industrial wastes mushroom production include rice straw, rice bran, including most abundant biomolecule of the biosphere, wheat straw, pulp, corncobs, cocoa shell wastes, cotton known as cellulose (Chang and Miles, 1999; seed bulb, cotton wastes from textile industry, brewers Gbolagade, 2005). Presently,have been utilized as food grain, saw dust (a big waste in timber industry), maize in different regions of the world.Besides,they are husks and cassava peelings (Stanley et al., 2011, gaining much attention in pharmaceutical industries, Jonathan et al, 2012b). medicines and agro allied companies (Aina et al., Pleurotus pulmonarius is an edible white rot 2012a; Jonathan et al, 2012a). fungi (WRF) commonly known as the Indian Oyster, Mushrooms are eukaryotic organisms that have a Phoenix Mushroom, or the Lung Oyster. It belongs to cell containing the polysaccharide, chitin, along with the Kingdom: Fungi, Division: Basidiomycota, Class: lipids and proteins Aina et al, 2012b; Jonathan et al, Agaricomycetes, Order: Agaricales, Family: 2013a). Some reproduce sexually while many Tricholomataceae Genus: Pleurotus, Species: reproduce asexually in a variety of ways. (Zoberi, 1972, pulmonarius (Alexopolous et al., 1996. and Jonathan et Alofe et al., 1998). Edible mushrooms are nutritionally al., 2012c). endowed fungi (mostly Basidiomycetes) that grow Edible mushrooms provide high quality proteins naturally on the trunks, leaves and roots of trees as well that can be produced with greater biological efficiency as decaying woody materials (Chang and Miles, 1992; than animal protein. Mushrooms are rich in fibers, Gbolagade, 2006). Recently, mushrooms with other minerals and vitamins and have low crude fat content fungi were reported to be grouped into the plant and high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids kingdom (Lindequist et al., 2005). They are Harkonen et al. (1995). Furthermore, mushroom conspicuous and can be found in soil, air, water, plants, proteins contain all the essential amino acids required decomposed organic matters and animals of all regions for man. About 50-70% dry weight are carbohydrates, of the world having sufficient moisture to enable them 15-50% dry weight are proteins and 1-15% dry weight grow (Jonathan et al., 2008). Many agricultural and are fats (Harkonen et al., 1995; Jonathan et al., 2013b) industrial by-products can find uses in mushroom and containing vitamins and inorganic minerals (Miles production (Chinda and Chinda, 2007). Some of these and Chang, 1997; Chang and Mshengeni, 2001). 22 World Rural Observations 2013;5(1) http://www.sciencepub.net/rural Today, P. pulmonarius is a potential protein collected from Bodija saw mill in Ibadan while Rice source especially in developing countries where animal straw was obtained from African Rice Unit, of the protein is scarce and expensive (Quimio et al., 1990; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA.) Jonathan et al, 2012c). Presently, sawdust is the major Ibadan. Oyo State, Nigeria. substrate used in commercial cultivation of P. The additives used were rice bran (Oryza sativa pulmonarius of in Nigeria. Due to technology L.) and Lime (CaCO3). The lime was added to obtain advancement, the so called waste (sawdust) is now been PH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 as suggested by Owen used greatly for the production of briquette, shelf, (2007). The rice bran was obtained from African Rice board, office table and furniture generally. The ongoing Unit of the International Institute of Tropical publicity of mushroom as a high source of protein with Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Oyo State.The wheat grain low cholesterol content which over ride meats and other used for spawn production was purchased from fatty foods, may soon diminish due to the fore-scarcity Bodija market, Ibadan, Nigeria of the sawdust. Hence, other agricultural wastes such as 2.2 Experimental set up pawpaw leaves, rice straw, coconut husk, corn cob, The experiment was set up using Complete sugar cane bargass etc. which are not in high demand Randomised Design (CRD) with 3×4×5 arrangements. presently, can be a remedy for the above mentioned problem. With the upsurge in unemployment rate in 2.3 Preparation of Substrates developing countries, small-scale mushroom cultivation The coconut husks were pulverised at the with these agriculture and forest fruit wastes could Department of Geology, University of Ibadan using serve as a means of employment and for more income Highland Park Milling Machine after pounding with generation. Meanwhile, with new findings on the yield mortar. The rice straw were cut into 3-5cm (Stanley, and nutritional compositions of P. pulmonarius grown 2011) at Botany Department of The University of on agricultural wastes, based on this we would be able Ibadan. to establish the yield performance and nutritional composition of P. pulmonarius as well as the 2.4 Bagging of the substrates phytochemical contents of agricultural wastes. 2.8kg of each of the substrates was weighed on the With the present economic situation, many weighing balance in five places. Since the substrates people can hardly afford meat and fish hence there is a were non-composted the actual weights were taken as need of turning to mushrooms as an alternative source 70% of the total weight that is; of protein. 2.8kg × 70/100 = 1.96kg / (This is the Actual Most agricultural waste (that can be useful for Weight) the cultivation of P. pulmonarius ) litter and sometimes To the first 2.8kg of each substrate, 1% actual pollute our environment. Cultivation of P.pulmonarius weight of lime was added that is; will provide protein rich food as well as rid the 1.96kg × 1/100 = 0.0196kg of lime added no rice environment of agricultural wastes. bran (This represented the control 0% level of rice To evaluate production and nutritional quality bran). of the edible mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius) To the second 2.8kg of each substrate, 1% actual cultivated on coir fibre, Oil palm waste, sawdust weight of lime and 10% Actual weight of rice bran (Gmelina), and rice straw supplemented with rice bran were added that is; as an additive and compare yield performances of this 1.96kg × 10/100 = 0.196kg=196g was added, mushroom cultivated on the four different substrates (This represented the 10% level of rice bran) also to determine the proximate and nutritional To the third 2.8kg of each substrate, 1% actual weight composition of P. pulmonarius of lime and 20% Actual weight of rice bran were added that is; 2. Materials and methods 1.96kg × 20/100 = 0.392kg=392g was added, 2.1 Collection of samples (This represented the 20% level of rice bran) Pleurous pulmonarius used for this experiment To the fourth 2.8kg of each substrate 1% actual weight was collected from the Mushroom Unit of Pathology of lime and 30% Actual weight of rice bran were added Section of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. that is; The substrates used for this research were: Coir fibre 1.96kg × 30/100 = 0.588kg=588g was added, This (Coconut husk fibre), Oil palm waste, Sawdust represented the 30% level of rice bran) (Gmelina arborea) and Rice straw (Oryza sativa L.), To the fifth 2.8kg of each substrate, 1% actual Coconut husk was obtained from Araromi Badagry, weight of lime and 40% Actual weight of rice bran Lagos Nigeria, Oil palm waste was obtained from Oje were added that is; market, Ibadan Oyo State Nigeria, saw dust was 23 World Rural Observations 2013;5(1) http://www.sciencepub.net/rural 1.96kg × 40/100 = 0.784kg=784g was added, (This represented the 40% level of rice bran) Each of these aforementioned measured substrates was then mixed with water enough to soak the substrate but which when squeezed with the hands dropped no water.