Enhancing growth and yield of grey oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju) using sound treatment at different intervals

Abstract

Mushrooms are famous for their use as source of nutrient and medicinal purposes. Wild mushrooms grew in a large number in the nature after a heavy down pour. Some believes that the thunderstorm and lightning can have effects on the growth of mushrooms. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of different acoustic sound treatment intervals towards the growth of grey oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sajor-caju). Five different sound treatment intervals involved which were; no treatment (control), 5-day, 10-day, 15-day and 20 day. The variables investigated were mycelium growth rate, growth stage performance (durations for mycelium filling up the bags, pinhead emergence and fruiting bodies formation), yield (number of fruiting bodies, total weight of fruiting bodies and percentage of biological efficiency) and physical analyses (pileus size, colour and texture). There were significant differences (P<0.05) observed in the mycelium growth rate, mycelium filling up the bags and number of fruiting bodies formation among different treatment intervals. As conclusion, the sound treated at different intervals have significant impact on the growth and yield of mushroom production where treatment at 5-day intervals was found to be the best treatment interval.