Development of Interspecific Hybrids of Pleurotus sajor-caju and P. flabellatus for Better Yield

Abstract

Existence of variability in morphological traits and growth rate of mycelium of homokaryotic single basidiospores can be exploited for the development of interspecific hybrids of mushroom. To explore this, interspecific hybrids of P. flabellatus, P. sajor-caju having earliness in production, better nutritional qualities and higher yield as compared to their parent strains tried at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya. Eighteen and six monosporus culture of P. flabellatus, P. sajor-caju, respectively were isolated by spore print or serial dilution or hyphal tip fragmentation techniques. Twenty interspecific hybrids were developed from different cross combinations of parents P. flabellatus and P. sajor-caju. The hybrids were grown on malt extract agar media. Highest growth rate shown by the hybrids in media were selected to study qualitative and quantitative response during cultivation. In cultivation spawn running and pin head formation was faster in PF × PSC5 and PF × PSC7. Comparing all the parameters, growth of PF × PSC6 and PF × PSC8 were found to be more efficient. Nitrogen and protein content was good enough in PF × PSC4, PF × PSC7, PF × PSC5 and PF × PSC10. Regarding all the quantitative parameters of the hybrids, biological efficiency and yield of 1st and 2nd harvest of PF × PSC6 and PF × PSC8, PF × PSC5, PF × PSC10 and PF × PSC3 were better than the rest hybrid combinations. In interspecific hybrids of P. flabellatus and P. sajor-caju, the highest yield and biological efficiency was found in PF × PSC6 combination and may be selected for better mushroom production.