Changes in lignocellulosic fractions of growing substrates during the cultivation of Hypsizygus ulmarius mushroom and its effects on mushroom productivity

Abstract

The study focuses on determining the relationship between the degradation of lignocellulosic fractions of substrates used in Hypsizygus ulmarius cultivation and mushroom yield in order to present a wider range of data on the needs of the fungus. In the study, H. ulmarius was cultivated on bean straw (BS), corn silage (CS) and wheat straw (WS), poplar sawdust (PPS), pine sawdust (PS) and spent mushroom substrate (SMS). The degradation process of lignocellulosic wastes was characterized during 90 days of cultivation period and the results were correlated by comparing the mycelial growth and yield. BS was the best substrate for H. ulmarius due to its shorter crop cycle (28 days), high yield and BE% (340.0 g/kg and 93.1%). Consumption of hemicellulose was observed predominantly, during the spawn running period of cultivation. The decrease in lignin level during H. ulmarius cultivation is significantly lower compared to hemicellulose and cellulose. Cellulose was degraded mainly during the fruiting period, and it was observed that high cellulose degradation during the fruiting stage are positively correlated with the yield and biological efficiency of H. ulmarius. High lignin content of the substrate is a limiting factor for H ulmarius yield. The chemical analysis confirmed the decrease in pH, C:N ratio, lignocellulosic content and increase in EC, nitrogen and the ash content of substrates during cultivation of H. ulmarius. The study revealed that the key factor dominating a successful H. ulmarius cultivation to be substrate having moderate amount of N and low lignin and high cellulose content.