Production of protein-rich mycelial biomass of a mushroom, Pleurotus sajor-caju, on corn stover

Abstract

Pleurotus sajor-caju was adapted to grow submerged without any loss in the economic yield coefficient on up to 3% wt./vol of corn stover in Mandels and Weber medium without yeast extract or any other growth factors added. The final product (mycelial biomass) contained 40–49% protein (N × 6.25). The amino acid profile of the protein was as good as of any edible fungus except that it was deficient in sulfur amino acids as is characteristic of most fungi. The preliminary feeding trials on rats indicated that about 50% of protein in the diet can be replaced with that of P. sajor-caju without any deleterious effects.