Growth of Pleurotus ostreatus on non-supplemented agro-industrial wastes

Abstract

The aim of this work was to determine the best conditions for the growth of the edible mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus. The variables investigated were: type of strain, type of solid substrate and particles size. In the first instance two local strains were tested resulting best the strain CEBA-GLIIE-010106, based on the linear growth rate. The growth rate for this strain was of 0,583 mm/h. In the second variable three wastes were considered: the whole plant of bean, the stalk part of the banana plant and sugarcane bagasse, all produced in Ecuador. The particle size was investigated from 6 to 9 mm. As response variables three variables were chosen: Productivity, the bio-conversion and the unit cost of raw materials. According to the statistical analysis it was demonstrated that for the three response variables there is no significant difference for the particle size in the range studied and that the best solid substrate for the growth is the waste from the harvest of bean, with bioconversion of 12,83% and productivity of 0,51 g DM mushroom kg–1 DM initial substrate d –1 and unit cost of raw materials of 39,67 $/kg Biomass .