ABSTRACT

Mushrooms are fleshly noticeable fruiting-bodies of fungi, typically produced above the ground on soil or other food sources. Oyster mushrooms(Pleurotus ostreatus) was cultivated on different agro-waste, Andropogon gayanus straw and oil-palm bunch in the ratio of control(100% Andropogon gayanus straw), 70% Andropogon gayanus straw -30% oil palm bunch, 50%+50% of Androgogon gayanus straw and oil palm bunch, and 60% Andropogon gayanus straw + 40% oil palm bunch. The fruit-body yield of the mushroom on the four substrates and the effects of the substrates on the phytochemicals and vitamins of the fruit bodies viz moisture content and dry matter. A wide range of plant waste such as saw dust, paddy straw, bagasse, cornstalks, waste cotton, banana stalks and leaves can be used for Pleurotus mushroom production without a requirement for costly processing methods and enrichment materials. The investigation showed that Andropogon gayanus and oil palm bunch in the various ratios produced various quantities of fruit-bodies. They are significantly higher in number those of control and 50%+50%This study was carried out in order to evaluate the usability of some organic wastes; oil palm bunch and Andropogon gayanus on growth yield related parameters of oyster mushroom. . The acceptability of the mushroom grown on Androgon gayanus and oil palm bunch could increase since oil palm is a staple food in many parts of the country. The percentage vitamins and phytochemical content of the harvested mushroom ranged from tannins and phytochemical content of the harvested mushroom ranged from 13.27% for mushroom produced from Andropogon gayanus and oil palm bunch. The above findings reveal the possibility of commercial production of high quality Pleurotus ostreatus on Andropogon gayanus and oil palm bunch is recommended as the best substrate for spawn production among the various organic wastes used in the study.