ABSTRACT

Growth requirement of Pluerotus pulmonarius (fries) Quelet, a Nigerian edible mushroom were studied .P. pulmonarius was grown on two nutrient materials; media (potato dextrose yeast agar (PDYA), malt extract yeast agar (MEYA), oat meal yeast agar (OMYA), corn meal yeast agar (CMYA) and agrowaStes and their combinations (Panicum straw, Vertiver straw, Cassia pod, Rice Straw, Soybean husk, Panicium + soyhusk, vertiver+ soyhusk, cassia 4- soyhusk, rice + soyhusk) to know the nutrient materials that will give the highest mycelial growth. The highest mycelial growth of P.pul.inonarius was observed On OMYA, which has, a mean growth (6.3cm) while the lowest growth was on PDYA with mean growth (3.4cm). Among the agro-wastes t:d, the highest mycelial growth was seen on soybean husk with mean growth (5.68cm) while the lowest mean growth was on rice straw (1 .48cm). The heaviest wet and thy weight was on OMYA with mean wet and thy weight (2.6gm and 0.077gm respectively), while the lightest mean wet and city weight was on PDYA (0.9gm and 0.03gm respectively). Experiment was also done to determine the effect of different pH (4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0 and 6.5) on mycelial growth of P. pulmonarius. The highest mycelial growth was on pH 4.5 with mean growth (4.43cm) while the lowest mean growth was on pH 5.5 (2.78cm). This shows that P. pulinonarius prefers acidic medium for maximum growth. The implication of this result is discussed in relation to the multiplication of P. pulinonarius mycelial for edible and medicinal purposes and for the production of P. puirnonarius fruitbodies.