Abstract
An investigation was carried out on the cultivation of mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using corn cobs and saw dust as the main substrates. Lignocellulosic wastes such as corn cobs and saw dust were packaged inside heat – resistant polythene bags and pasteurized before being seeded with 7.5% w/w millet spawn of Pleurotus ostreatus and incubated at room temperature (250C) for six weeks. Thereafter, they were exposed by incising small stripes on the bag to give a cold shock to initiate fruiting. The result of this study showed that corn cobs had an average yield of1,248g per flush and saw dust 526.50g per flush. Thus, indicating that saw dust gave a significantly (p<0.05) higher yield (70%) than saw dust (30%). Mushroom cultivation in Nigeria (Developing Country) is of great importance because it converts agricultural and industrial waste (which can pollute the environment) into edible protein; it can serve as a means of generating employment for the Nigeria populace because it can be grown all year round; if exported, mushrooms will be an important source of foreign exchange.
Highlights
Mushrooms have been defined as macro-fungi with distinctive fruit bodies, which are visible to the naked eye
General Observation: It was observed that the colour of Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated on corn cobs and sawdust were both grayish at early stages of fruiting and creamy at maturity
Plate 1: Pleurotus Ostreatus Cultivated on Corn cobs
Summary
Mushrooms have been defined as macro-fungi with distinctive fruit bodies, which are visible to the naked eye. Mushrooms belong to the class Basidiomycetes (Pelczar et al, 2003). Mushrooms have long been recognized as food items, delicacy and for their medicinal values. Mushrooms contain all the essential acids including abundant content of lysine (which is too little in cereal grains). Mushrooms contain linoleic acids (unsaturated fatty acids) which are considered desirable for good health. Animal fat is considered hazardous to health because of abundance of saturated fatty acid, while vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin biotic and ascorbic acid (Vit.C) are present in abundance in mushrooms. The mineral contents in mushroom are higher than those of meat, fish, eggs, cheese and most vegetables (Royse, 1996; Park 2001). Mushroom cultivation has a good potential in Nigeria, because there are cheap and available substrates, man – power and ready market. The major substrates for cultivation are lignocellulosic wastes while the minor substrates (additives) are nutritional supplements which are added in small quantities
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