Production of the “maguey mushroom” Pleurotus agaves on formulated substrates

Agricultural residues have been world widely accepted for oyster mushroom culture. In this study, we used wheat straw, barley straw, maize stem residue, and lawn residue as substrates coupled with wheat bran, rice bran and soybean powder as complements for the growth of Pleurotus florida and Pleurotus ostreatus as edible mushrooms. Shorter growth period and higher yield and biological efficiency were obtained for P. florida than P. ostreatus . Wheat and barley straws which contained high fiber and carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio caused the best growth period, fruiting body weight, yield and biological efficiency. Assessment of substrate and complement combinations indicated that the longest growth period was obtained from barley straw enriched with rice bran (27.00 day). However, the highest fruiting body number (36.33), fruiting body weight (31.17 g), yield (939.33 g), and biological efficiency (187.87%) belonged to wheat straw complemented by soybean powder plus rice bran. In conclusion, the highest yield and biological efficiency was achieved by implementation of composts in which high fiber substrates and high protein complements were combined. Key words: Oyster mushroom, wheat straw, barley straw, high fiber.

Nutritional composition of lentil straw, vetch hay, olive leaves, and saltbush leaves and their digestibility as measured in fat-tailed sheep

Implementation of agricultural residues for oyster mushroom culture has been accepted world-wide. In this study, we used wheat straw, barley straw, maize stem residue, and lawn residue as substrates coupled with wheat bran, rice bran and soybean powder as complements for the growth of P. florida. Wheat and barley straws which contained a high fiber and C/N ratio had the best growth period, fruiting body weight, yield, and biological efficiency. Assessment of substrate and complement combinations indicated that the lowest growth period was obtained from barley straw enriched with rice bran (24.67 day). However the highest fruiting body number (36.33), fruiting body weight (31.17 g), yield (1039 g), and biological efficiency (207.8 %) belonged to wheat straw complemented by either wheat or rice bran. In conclusion, the highest fruiting body weight, yield, and biological efficiency was achieved by implementation of composts in which high fiber substrates and complements were combined.

The production of four strains of edible mushroom Lentinula edodes was evaluated through solid-state fermentation (SSF) of vineyard pruning (VP), barley straw (BS), and wheat straw (WS). Biological efficiency, proximal composition, and energy value of the fruiting bodies, as well as substrate chemical changes after harvest, were determined. The shortest primordium formation time (28 days), highest biological efficiency (93.25%), highest yield (37.46%), and shortest production cycle (6 days) were observed in VP. The fruiting bodies obtained from VP had high energy value (379.09 to 392.95 kcal) and contents of protein (12.37 to 17.19%), but low contents of fat (1.82 to 2.15%). After SSF, phenol concentration decreased on VP (1.2 mmol/L) and BS (0.31 mmol/L), but on WS remained practically the same. Hemicellulose decreased in all substrates; cellulose increased on WS and decreased in the rest of the treatments. Lignin decreased on WS and BS, but its concentration increased on VP. The variability observed in the degradation capacity of lignocellulosic components was influenced by the substrate's nature, environmental factors, and genetic factors among strains. VP has great potential for shiitake production due to its low cost, short production cycles, and high biological efficiency.

The effects of various combinations of wheat bran, rye and millet (at 20% and 30% of total dry substrate wt) on crop cycle time, biological efficiency (BE) and mushroom quality were evaluated for a commercially used isolate of Grifola frondosa (maitake). Supplements were combined with a basal ingredient of mixed oak (primarily red oak) sawdust, and the resulting mixture was pasteurized, cooled, inoculated and bagged with an autoclaving mixer. Times to mushroom primordial formation and mushroom harvest were recorded, and mushroom quality was rated on a scale of 1-4, where 1 was the highest quality and 4 was the lowest quality. The combinations of 10% wheat bran, 10% millet and 10% rye (BE 47.1%, quality 1.8 and crop cycle 12 weeks) and 10% wheat bran plus 20% rye (BE 44%, quality 1.7 and crop cycle 10 weeks) gave the most consistent yields and best basidiome quality over time.

Imported strains and substrates in the conventional cultivation Pleurotus spp. in Mexico can be substituted by local inputs, which are easier to acquire, offer sustainability in the face of climate change and high productive potential. The mycelial growth rate (MGR) and productivity of wild strains of Pleurotus djamor on substrates from the central region of the state of Veracruz were evaluated using a completely randomized desing. MXLD23, MXLD24 and 598 strains were grown on: Barley Straw (BS), Sugar Cane Leaf (SCL), Arachis pintoi (AP), Corn Stover (CS), Banana Leaves (BL) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). The MGR was estimated by linear regression. The Biological Efficiency (BE), Production Rate (PR), Yield (Y), Total Fresh Weight of Sporomes (TFWS) and Production Cycle (PC) were determined. Test were performed: Shapiro-Wilks, analysis of variance, Tukey´s mean contrast, Kruskal-Wallis, and principal components analysis. On average, the MGR of strains MXLD23, MXLD24 and 598 developed in CS and BL ranged from 1.1 to 1.2 cm day-1. Intermediate values of 0.6 to 0.8 cm day-1 were observed on AP and low values on BS with 0.3 to 0.4 cm day-1. Strain 598 grown on CS showed a BE of 74%, PR of 2.17 % day-1, Y of 7.59 % and TFWS of 240 g. Strain 598 cultivated in CS has high productive potential and could be introduced in the Pleurotus production system in Veracruz.

Agro-industrial residues represent more than 60% of organic wastes worldwide, which could be used to generate other by-products or to be incorporated into other production chains. For example, bagasse is a waste from the tequila industry in Mexico that could be implemented for mushroom cultivation. Additionally, the substrate influences the growth, development, and production of secondary metabolites of fungi. This work presents a comparative experiment that studies the metabolite production in Pleurotus djamor mushrooms on agave bagasse and barley straw (traditional substrate). The biological efficiency (BE), yield, phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant capacity, tannins, and the identification of low molecular weight metabolites were evaluated. Five treatments were proposed according to the following mixtures of agave bagasse: barley straw: T1 (1:0), T2 (3:1), T3 (1:1), T4 (1:3), and T5 (0:1). T2 had the highest yield (13.39 ± 3.23%), BE (56.7 ± 13.71%), and flavonoids (44.25 mg rutin equivalent (RE)/g); T3 obtained the highest phenol content (230.27 mg GAE/g); and T1 the highest tannins content (0.23 mg (+) catechin equivalent (CE)/g). Finally, T1 and T5 are the ones that present the greatest number of primary metabolites, including hydroxycitric acid, 2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-mannose, paromomycin, palmitic acid, pyrrole, mannitol, and DL arabinose, while in T2, T3, and T4 only two chemical compounds were found present (palmitic acid and pyrrole in T2, silicic acid and pyrrole in T3 and 2-deoxy-D-galactose and quinoline in T4). The cultivation substrate influences the concentration of bioactive molecules in the fruiting bodies of P. djamor. Additionally, P. djamor's degradation of agave bagasse residue generates a potential application for agro-industrial residue management at a low cost.

Nineteen strains of Pleurotus djamor, 17 Mexican strains and 2 Japanese strains, were cultivated on barley straw at pilot plant level. Yield analyses considered primordia initiation, biological efficiency (BE), production rate (PR), number of flushes and size of the fruiting bodies. One Mexican strain showed the highest yield, 616.45 g of mushrooms (fresh weight) in 7 flushes, reaching 123% BE, 1.96% PR and producing basidiomes with more than 15 cm pileus diameter. BE of the remaining strains fluctuated between 24 and 69% and PR between 0.74 and 1.96%.

Pleurotus flabellatus and Pleurotus sajor-caju were cultivated on different plant substrates as the former species fruits well at 18–28°C and the later species at 10–20°C. Plant wastes or substrate viz. Paddy straw, Wheat straw, Barley straw, Sugarcane trash, Gram kernel and Lentil kernel were tried as alternative substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus flabellatus, and Pleurotus sajor-caju. Biological efficiency (BE) obtained from each substrate was more than 90%. The highest yield of P. flabellatus (1120g/1000 g dry substrate, BE 112%) and highest yield of P. sajorcaju (1320g/1000g dry substrate, BE 132%). was obtained from paddy straw substrate. Wheat straw, Barely straw, Sugarcne bagasses, Gram kernel and Lentil kernel proved to be good substrate for mushroom cultivation. Economic profitability analysis showed that Pleurotus mushroom cultivation was income-generation entrepreneurship that farmers and unemployed youth can easily adopt. A profit of 156.1 to 264.1% was recorded when 80% of the experimented yield was taken into account. A profit of more than 100% achieved even from the pessimistic yield (60% of the experimental yield).

Mushroom cultivation is an economically feasible bio-technological process for conversion of various agricultural by-products. In Mexico, a large quantity of lignocellulosic residues is generated and several of them have been used as a substrate in the cultivation of Pleurotus spp. Thus, high nutritional value food is produced at a relatively low cost. In this study, fermented chickpea stubble (Cicer arietinum L.); bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) stubble sun-dried were used as a substrate for growing a strain of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kummer. (IE-8). On the chickpea stubble, the spawning was carried out on three, five and seven days of fermentated (FCS-3, FCS-5 and FCS-7, respectively) substrate. Highest productivity was obtained on the FCS-3 substrate with the formation of first primordia between 15 and 17 days; crop cycle between 44 to 49 days, with 156% of biological efficiency (BE), 46.8% of yield (Y) and 3.3% of production rate (PR). In the other treatments, forming first primordia was between 16 to 35 days, crop cycles between 43 and 61 days, with BE from 76.2% to 130.2%, Y between 16.8% to 39.0% and PR between 1.7% to 2.9%. Stubbles studied can be used as a substrate for the cultivation of the strain IE-8 on a small to large scale in the regions where they are generated, mainly the stubble of the chickpea plant.

The high-Andean grass Jarava ichu (Poaceae) plays a vital role in water regulation and aquifer recharge. However, its limited use is often linked to forest fires, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Therefore, this study aims to explore the valorization of ichu as a substrate for the cultivation of Pleurotus spp. (P. citrinopileatus, P. djamor, and P. ostreatus) and to evaluate the potential of the residual substrate as a biofertilizer, offering an ecological alternative to grassland burning in the Peruvian Andes. Samples of ichu from the district of Tomás (Lima, Peru) were used as culture substrate, analyzing productivity indicators such as crop cycle (CC), biological efficiency (BE), and production rate (PR), together with the nutritional profile of the fungi and the chemical properties of the residual substrate. The results showed an average biological efficiency of 19.8%, with no significant differences (p > 0.05) in CC, BE, or PR among the species, confirming the viability of ichu as a substrate. The fungi presented a high protein content (24.1–30.41% on a dry basis), highlighting its nutritional value. In addition, the residual substrate exhibited elevated levels of phosphorus (795.9–1296.9 ppm) and potassium (253.1–291.3 ppm) compared to raw ichu (0.11–7.77 ppm for both nutrients). Germination tests on radish seeds showed rates between 80% and 100%, without inhibition, supporting its potential as a biofertilizer. This study demonstrates the double potential of ichu as a substrate for the sustainable production of edible mushrooms of high nutritional value and as a source of biofertilizers.

New species of medicinal mushrooms have emerged over the past several decades, such as the Sun mushroom, Agaricus subrufescens. Horticultural improvements are required to shift its cultivation from small-scale local production to large-scale international production. The research reported here evaluated the agronomic behavior and the chemical characteristics of the Sun mushroom as a function of i) nutritional supplementation ii) ruffling of the casing layer and iii) the temperature management on the primordia induction and reduction of the crop cycle. Supplementation was beneficial for yield, unit mushroom weigh and decrease in time to first harvest. Supplementation improved biological efficiency with Champfood providing a yield increase of 15% over the non-supplemented compost. Among the supplements only Promycel increased the individual mushroom weight. Ruffling overall improved the yield in the 2nd and 4th flush. Already biological efficiency was greater by 21%. The highest yield harvested in any single day in the crop occurred in 3rd flush with the amount of 2.484 kg of mushrooms per m2 for the rapid induction method. Still the biological efficiency was not significantly affected by the mushroom induction temperature method. Only the fat content of the mushrooms was positively affected by the rapid induction of primordia. Champfood supplement promotes a reduction in the value of earliness and an increase of 1st flush yield. The ruffling technique provided an increase in biological efficiency due to the great number of mushrooms harvested. Rapid primordia induction allowed the crop cycle to end 3 days earlier than the slow primordia induction, providing a higher production rate.

The production and consumption of mushrooms of the genus Pleurotus in the present day has grown due to the fact they are a source of nutrients, are developed in a short time, and because of the diversity of substrates used in cultivation. The objective of the following work is to determine the best alternative of substrate for the cultivation of the mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus in agroindustrial waste of the sierra and the Ecuadorian Amazon (barley straw, wheat straw, bean peel, sugar cane bagasse, maize waste) in an individual form. An experimental design of a factor was used and variables were evaluated statistically such as the yield, the biological efficiency, precocity and the growth speed. The results statistically obtained indicate the barley straw as the best treatment, with a performance of 21.08%, biological efficiency of 84.83%, precocity of 18.6 days, growth speed of 5 days, pileus diameter of 4.9-5.9 cm, and protein content of 3.08%.

Accurate seasonal estimates of fiber are needed to maximize profits whether producing sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) for sucrose or ethanol. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sample date and crop cycle on fiber content of three sugarcane cultivars growing on sand and organic (muck) soils, and secondarily to determine if fiber could be reliably estimated 1 mo before the beginning of the harvest season. From September through February, from 2007–2009, fiber content was estimated from monthly sampled stripped stalks of cultivars CP 72‐2086, CP 78‐1628, and CP 89‐2143 growing in three replications of field plots in south Florida in the plant‐cane, first‐ratoon, and second‐ratoon crop cycles on Pompano fine sand (siliceous, hyperthermic Typic Psammaquent) or Margate sand (Siliceous, hyperthermic Mollic Psammaquent), and Torry muck (euic, hyperthermic Typic Haplosaprist) soils. Linear increases in fiber content ranged from 0.07 to 0.28 g kg−1 d−1 Quadratic models usually predicted maximum fiber content from December through early January. On sand soils, the cultivar rankings were often similar to expectations, with fiber content of CP 78‐1628 > CP 89‐2143 > CP 72‐2086. On the muck soil, CP 78‐1628 fiber content was high, but differences between CP 72‐2086 and CP 89‐2143 were not consistent. For all soils, overall means were often not indicative of fiber status due to significant, but inconsistent interactions. Researchers should analyze fiber content whenever they analyze sucrose content, and mills should monitor fiber content daily of unique cultivar × crop cycle × soil deliveries.

Steers fitted with simple rumen and abomasal cannulas were given isoenergetic diets of approximately equal amounts of untreated (UT) barley straw and concentrates (flaked maize + tapioca) alone (BS) or with urea (BSU) or fishmeal (BSF). Similar diets were also given in which the barley straw had been treated (AT) with NaOH (BSA, BSAU and BSAF respectively). The diets were given in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Feed components and abomasal digesta samples were analysed for neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fibres and for monosaccharide constituents of structural polysaccharides. Hemicellulose contents were estimated as the sum of xylose + arabinose (X + A) and by the difference between ash‐free NDF and ash‐free ADF (NDF‐ADF). Cellulose was estimated as β‐linked glucose (C) and by the difference between ash‐free ADF and lignin (ADF–L).103 Ruthenium and PEG were given as flow markers and flows (g24h−1) at the abomasum of carbohydrate components estimated in these ways were calculated. Approximately 98% (by wt.) of the cellulose (C) found in original feed and digesta samples was recovered in both NDF and ADF. Recoveries of hemicellulose (X + A) in NDF from UT straw, AT straw and abomasal digesta were approximately 92, 48 and 50%, respectively. The ADF fraction of feeds and digesta contained 3–6 and 10–17% of the nitrogen and xylose, respectively, present in the original samples. Mouth to abomasum digestibilities of hemicellulose (NDF– ADF) for diets BS, BSU, BSF, BSA, BSAU and BSAF were 39, 62, 67, 29, 61 and 76%, respectively. Corresponding values for cellulose (ADF–L) were 37, 34, 50, 45, 48, and 63%, respectively. The use of NDF–ADF and ADF–L as measures of hemicellulose and cellulose contents, respectively, of feeds and digesta, and the digestibility of these carbohydrate fractions between mouth and abomasum of steers are discussed.