Abstract
Supplementation of edible fungi with essential mineral during cultivation has been an interesting approach to proffer solution to mineral deficiency. Effect of selenium Se concentrations 0, 50.0, 100.0 mg mL-1 as sodium selenite on mycelial growth and biomass production of Pleurotus spp. was assessed. The biological efficiency and uptake of Se was determined after the cultivation of Pleurotus mushrooms on Urochloa decumbens signal grass with 50.0 g kg-1 of Se. The fungal growth rate and biomass production were reduced after addition of Se and their value ranged from 1.0 mm d-1 to 3.6 mm d-1 and 5.63 g to 30.5 g respectively. Higher biological efficiency (115.23%) was obtained for P. ostreatus P93 and was significantly different P<0.05 from other tested Pleurotus spp. Cultivated P. pulmonarius aborbed more Se 135.5 µg g-1 followed by Pleurotus cornucopiae 120.34 µg g-1 but no Se was detected in the control mushrooms grown on subatrate without Se. Therefore, signal grass can be used as substrate for cultivation of edible fungi Pleurotus species enriched with Se. The produced mushrooms can serve as a natural source of mineral supplement for human beings to curb the symptoms of selenium deficiency.
Highlights
Selenium is a trace element that is fundamental and essential for several metabolic pathways such as thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defence system and immune function[1]
This study is meant to assess the effect of Se on mycelial growth and biological efficiency as well as Se accumulated by edible mushrooms of Pleurotus spp. cultivated on signal grass supplemented with Se
Edible fungi of higher Basidiomycetes, especially Pleurotus spp. are used as alternative source of mineral supplement when there are deficient of minerals in natural foods[13]
Summary
Selenium is a trace element that is fundamental and essential for several metabolic pathways such as thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defence system and immune function[1]. Selenium compounds inhibit signaling enzymes such as protein kinase C (PKC) that is responsible for tumor promotion and exert antioxidant effect through selenoproteins and thioredoxin reductases[4]. Soil conditions have been associated with Se toxicity in animals (selenosis) in some areas with high Se content but Se deficiency syndromes occurred in animals and humans in areas of low soil Se5. Wild and edible mushrooms contain some amount of Se but it concentration varied based on the Se content in soil or growth substrate. Supplementation of Se into Pleurotus mushrooms will improve the antioxidant status, eliminate dietary aliments and suppress the syndromes associated with deficiency of Selenium. This study is meant to assess the effect of Se on mycelial growth and biological efficiency as well as Se accumulated by edible mushrooms of Pleurotus spp. cultivated on signal grass supplemented with Se
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