Pleurotus Species Research Articles

Traditional knowledge and use of wild mushrooms with biocultural importance in the Mazatec culture in Oaxaca, Mexico, cradle of the ethnomycology

Aim of study: To document for the first-time the biocultural knowledge related to the use, nomenclature, and classification of wild mushrooms by the Mazatec culture, cradle of the ethnomycology. Area of study: Municipality of Eloxochitlán de Flores Magón and communities of San José Buena Vista and Agua Ancha, belonging to the state of Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. Materials and methods: A total of 291 interviews were performed by using numerical ethnomycological methods, during the rainy seasons, between 2017 and 2021. Based on the knowledge of local experts, fungal specimens with biocultural relevance were collected. Socio-demographic information, knowledge of wild mushrooms and their usages, local nomenclature, culinary uses, and transmission of traditional knowledge were documented. Main results: Paradoxically, this is the first ethnomycological study that addresses a complete study of fungi with biocultural importance in the ethnic group where ethnomycology emerged as a discipline. Previous studies related to mushrooms with Mazatec people focused exclusively on entheogenic mushrooms leaving aside paramount issues related to traditional mycological knowledge of the fungal local resources, including their edibility and cultural relevance. All interviewees consumed mushrooms, indicating high levels of mycophilia. Twenty-seven species, all of them having a native Mazatec name, were identified. Species of Pleurotus, Auricularia, Cantharellus, and Schizophyllum spp. showed the highest cultural value indexes. Research highlights: Ethnomycological knowledge of Mazatec culture is prolific and related to local natural resources cosmovision, beliefs and traditions. Mycological knowledge is currently preserved among Mazatec people and it is still transmitted to new generations despite strong transculturation processes.

Influence of various substrate treatment methods on yield and biological efficiency of Pleurotus florida mushroom

Due to their excellent flavour and taste, Pleurotus species, which flourish in temperate and subtropical environments, are well-liked among edible mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms could be grown on a variety of substrates due to their powerful enzymatic properties. Pleurotus sp. grows more easily, more profitably, and more nutrient-densely on a variety of organic waste raw materials and environmental factors. Sterilization of the substrate is one of the most crucial steps in oyster mushroom cultivation. There have been numerous reports of contaminated mushroom substrate. Suitable sterilization techniques must be used on the substrates. There are several treatments for mushroom substrate that can be used to manage the frequent moulds that infest edible mushrooms. Sterilization of the substrate is necessary to get rid of pathogenic and rival microorganisms and to encourage the mycelial growth of the desired mushroom species. The goal of the current study was to identify the best treatment strategy for the chosen substrates. For substrate treatment for Pleurotus florida cultivation, hot water, boiling water, steam sterilization in an autoclave, and chemical treatment methods were used. It was observed that the steam sterilization method was superior to other methods as it supported relatively short spawn run duration, amazing yield, and high biological efficiency.

Carposome productivity of Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii growing on agro-industrial residues enriched with nitrogen, calcium salts and oils

The suitability of the abundant agro-industrial residues wheat straw (WS; control), barley and oats straw (BOS) and rice husk (RH), supplemented with various sources of oils (sunflower, corn oil), nitrogen (peptone, yeast extract) and calcium salts (CaSO4·2H2O, CaCl2), as novel substrates in solid-state fermentation of selected Pleurotus ostreatus and P. eryngii mushrooms was investigated. The possible effect of different additives on mycelial growth rate, biomass production and endoglucanase, laccase and lipase biosynthesis were evaluated. Moreover, their impact on essential cultivation aspects (earliness, total mushroom yield, biological efficiency) and carposome quality parameters (weight, morphological characteristics) was assessed. Both fungi showed their highest growth rates on BOS substrates and the most positive implementation was CaSO4·2H2O 6 % w/w (Kr = 9.58 mm/ day; P. ostreatus, Kr = 9.42 mm/ day; P. eryngii), while different additives led to enhancement of biomass production. Pleurotus species demonstrated minimal levels of endoglucanase activity, with values ranging from 0.01 to 0.42 U/g of dry weight, regardless of the substrate and the stage of colonization. On the contrary, the maximum values of laccase activity were observed at 50 % of colonization on BOS and RH, while supplementation with nitrogen and calcium sources positively affected its biosynthesis. P. ostreatus and P. eryngii cultivated on BOS supplemented with peptone at 2 and 5 % w/w, synthesized significant laccase amounts, i.e., 12,165.78 and 8,624.55 U/g d.w., respectively. Satisfactory amounts of lipase were produced, especially in substrates supplemented with sunflower 2 % w/w, in quantities up to 1.42 U/g d.w., whereas the highest lipase activity was achieved by P. eryngii on WS supplemented with corn oil at 2 % w/w, with a value of 4.25 U/g d.w. being recorded. Regarding fermentation of Pleurotus species in polypropylene bags, WS and BOS supported faster colonization and shorter earliness period than RH substrates, whereas supplementation did not seem to affect these culture parameters. Furthermore, oils supplementation had a positive effect on BE of both species, with values up to 100 % for P. ostreatus and 80 % for P. eryngii on WS and BOS, whereas on RH the lowest BE values were detected. Morphological characteristics were not significantly affected by the additives. Results indicate the positive impact that certain additives have on mushroom productivity and production of enzymes with great financial and environmental importance.

Determination of Nutritional and Biochemical Composition of Selected Pleurotus spps.

The global demand for good quality food is going to be increased gradually. Mushrooms are broadly used as healthy nutritious meals. The nutritional values of extracts from four distinct Pleurotus species-Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Pleurotus sapidus, and Pleurotus columbinus-were determined in the current study. Firstly, proximate analysis of selected Pleurotus species was performed followed by the Bradford assay to analyze the protein spectrophotometrically; high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed for sugar determination while GC-MS was done to determine fatty acids on organic extracts of selected mushrooms. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the percentages while significance was determined by SPSS statistics. The results depicted that fat, protein, ash, fiber, energy contents, and total carbohydrate were in the range of 0.64-2.02%, 16.07-25.15%, 2.1-9.14%, 6.21-54.12%, 342.20-394.30 kcal/100 g, and 65.66-82.47%, respectively. The protein's maximum concentration was observed in P. ostreatus followed by P. columbinus>P. sajor-caju>P. sapidus, sequentially. Various sugars may or may not be present in selected Pleurotus spps. Among the fatty acids, the prevalence of UFA was more than that of saturated fatty acids among all selected mushrooms. From this study, it is concluded that all four Pleurotus spps. have excellent nutritional composition and can be used as valuable food and a great source of biochemical compounds.

Efikasnost rasta gljive Hypsizygus ulmarius u prisustvu biljnih otpadnih supstrata

Mushrooms are nutritionally important organisms that grow well on agricultural plant - based waste substrates. Mushroom cultivation technique is a profitable agribusiness at a small scale. It contains different polysaccharide compounds like cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses which could be degraded by extracellular enzymes produced by mushroom fungi. Such edible mushrooms have high nutritive values that include proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, lipids, vitamins and minerals. In the current research, the Elm (Hypsizygus ulmarius) mushrooms are cultivated using three different substrates: Paddy straw, corn husk, and a combination of corn husk and paddy straw under aseptic conditions. The spawn running, pin head formation and basidiocarp sprouting time period was faster (14 days) in combined substrates of corn husk and paddy straw compared to the individual substrates. The fruiting body size was larger in corn husk (cap diameter-7.9 cm, cap length - 5.83 cm) and corn husk + paddy straw substrate (cap diameter-6.96 cm, cap length - 5.53 cm) than in paddy straw substrate (cap diameter-6.63 cm, cap length - 4.06 cm). The nutrient composition of the harvested basidiocarps of mushroom from the different substrates had a higher moisture content (69.86 ± 0.41 %) and maximum ash (13.06 ± 0.75 %) content in Hypsizygus ulmarius from corn husk + paddy straw substrate. Among these, the protein rich (44.71 ± 0.28 % and 37.88 ± 0.45 %) mushrooms were cultivated using corn husk + paddy straw and corn husk substrate which contained low levels of carbohydrates and optimum levels of fats and lipid content. Thus, corn Husk + paddy straw combination substrate and corn husk substrate were more efficient and suitable for commercial cultivation of Hypsizygus ulmarius than the paddy straw substrate. Hypsizygus ulmarius produces large size basidiocarp and a higher yield than Pleurotus species. It is easy to cultivate it with high amount of yield. This commercial edible mushroom production technology is installed in different areas of our environment to enhance and balance the food scarcity in our state to overcome malnutrition. The present study suggested that a combination of corn husk and paddy straw could be used as a substrate for the production of nutritionally efficient mushrooms with a high yield. It would be applicable in various integrated mushroom farming along with agriculture which can lead to an increase in the Indian economy at a certain level.

Diversity of Pleurotus spp. (Agaricomycetes) and Their Metabolites of Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Importance.

Pleurotus spp. have been gaining popularity as a source for the creation of functional foods, nutraceuticals and novel pharmaceuticals. Despite Pleurotus is a specious genus including 208 legitimate species, only a few of them such as P. ostreatus are commercially accessible. The genetic and metabolic diversity of Pleurotus both at specific and subspecific level is therefore of main concern for many researchers. In addition to the conventional morphological approach, molecular and biochemical markers have been greatly contributing to investigate these issues. In this study, samples from six Pleurotus species (P. eryngii is represented by three varieties) were molecularly identified and the phylogeny was inferred to assess the relationships between the various taxa. Strains in pure culture obtained from 6 out of 7 species were cultivated as mycelium in vitro to investigate the metabolites by untargeted LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics. The results pointed out species-specific metabolite patterns and highlighted a clear difference between the P. eryngii group and P. ostreatus, although the latter appears more versatile depending on the strain. This is the first study pointing out and comparing different metabolite patterns in Italian samples of Pleurotus species, including P. eryngii varieties.

Crop residues and agro-industrial by-products from the province of La Rioja (Argentina) suitable for oyster mushroom culture

Large amounts of lignocellulosic residual biomass are generated annually in La Rioja province (Argentina). We have performed a survey to identify crop residues and agro-industrial by-products in the province, which could be suitable for oyster mushroom culture. We characterized their morphological composition and estimated a proxy of the mass that is generated annually by each of them. We have also evaluated the availability of the biomass by assessing the processing, distribution, seasonality, cost and other common uses that may compete with its application as substrate. Eight residual crops and eight agro-industrial by-products were identified, being olive and grape pomace the most abundant, followed by grape pruning, and olive and jojoba litter. These last two in addition to Prosopis bran and olive pits, did not register use as a substrate for the production of oyster mushrooms. In biological efficiency (BE) assays with commercial strains of Pleurotus species we recorded BE ranging from 28% to 72% depending on the substrate and fungal species. In a context of high quality food production deficit and nutritional problems related to it, this province has an interesting potential to introduce the production and consumption of oyster mushrooms as a feasible solution for food supply regional.

Influences of Some Aromatic Plants on Volatile Compounds and Bioactivity of Cultivated Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus djamor.

Two edible Pleurotus species, namely, Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus djamor grown in the media of mulberry shavings which were substituted with myrtle, bay laurel, and rosemary leaves were studied. According to volatile profiles, 13 aldehydes, 8 ketones, 7 alcohols, 5 aromatic compounds and 4 terpenes were totally identified. Rosemary leaves were very effective for decreasing the concentrations of some oxidation products in Pleurotus citrinopileatus, but the same impact was not seen in Pleurotus djamor. The high amount of benzaldehyde (41.80 %) detected in bay laurel medium might have played a role in preventing bioactivity. Control Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus djamor had a total phenolic content of 4284.89 and 3080.04 mg GAE per kg DM, respectively, and the enrichment of composts with aromatic plant leaves caused significant differences in Pleurotus djamor (p<0.05). Myrtle addition increased total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (by DPPH and FRAP assays) of Pleurotus djamor mushroom as 342.29 mg GAE/kg DM, 0.43 μmol TE/g DM and 2.07 μmol TE/g DM, respectively, when compared to intact one.

Growth response and mycoremediation of heavy metals by fungus Pleurotus sp.

Heavy metal contamination (HMs) in water and soil is the most serious problem caused by industrial and mining processes and other human activities. Mycoremediation is a biotechnology that employs fungi to remove toxic contaminants from the environment in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Pleurotus spp. have been shown to either increase plant growth on metal-contaminated soils by providing more nutrients or by reducing metal toxicity. Pleurotus species (J. Lange), a mushroom that can be eaten, has been observed growing on plantations of wood trees in Kerman's orchards. P. sp. was the subject of this study, which examined the effects of different concentrations of various heavy metals Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), and Nickel (Ni) (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/L) on fungal colony diameters, mycelial dry weights, accumulation of heavy metals, and antioxidative enzymes. The findings revealed that P. sp. was more tolerant of Co than other metals, so the fungus grew more in the presence of low concentrations of Co and Cu. However, even at concentrations as low as 15 mg/L, Ni greatly inhibited the growth of biomass and colony diameter. Heavy metals increased the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) up to 45 mg/L, but an increase in metal concentration above 45 mg/L resulted in a significant decrease in SOD. Metals in mycelium also increased as the concentrations of these heavy metals increased.

Temporal characterization of biocycles of mycelium-bound composites made from bamboo and Pleurotus ostreatus for indoor usage

Mycelium-bound composites (MBCs) are materials obtained by growing fungi on a ligno-cellulosic substrate which have various applications in packaging, furniture, and construction industries. MBCs are particularly interesting as they are sustainable materials that can integrate into a circular economy model. Indeed, they can be subsequently grown, used, degraded, and re-grown. Integrating in a meaningful biocycle for our society therefore demands that MBCs fulfil antagonistic qualities which are to be at the same time durable and biodegradable. In this study, we conduct experiments using MBCs made from the fungus species Pleurotus ostreatus grown on bamboo microfibers substrate. By measuring the variations of the mechanical properties with time, we provide an experimental demonstration of a biocycle for such composites for in-door applications. We found that the biocycle can be as short as 5 months and that the use of sustainable coatings is critical to increase the durability of the composites while maintaining biodegradability. Although there are many scenarios of biocycles possible, this study shows a tangible proof-of-concept example and paves the way for optimization of the duration of each phase in the biocycle depending on the intended application and resource availability.

Conversion of Oil Palm By-Products into Value-Added Products through Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) Cultivation

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus species) is a popular and widely cultivated edible mushroom that can be found worldwide, including in Malaysia. However, its local production is unable to fulfil the market demand, partly due to the limited availability of rubber wood sawdust (RWS) as the conventional cultivation substrate. Furthermore, the palm oil industry in Malaysia generates large volumes of organic by-products that have caused environmental concerns. Therefore, the potential utilisation of oil palm waste-based substrates in order to develop a substitute RWS for Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production is evaluated in this study, based on their agronomic performance and nutritional properties. Empty fruit bunches (EFBs), oil palm fronds (OPFs), and oil palm trunks (OPTs) were used to formulate the substrates. The control used was 100% RWS. Generally, 100% EFB showed a better agronomic performance, and mushroom growth was 1.9 times faster compared to the control, with a comparable mushroom yield. The crude protein and beta glucan content of mushrooms grown on oil palm by-product-formulated substrates were significantly higher than those grown using the control. Additionally, the number of fruiting bodies, crude protein, and beta glucan content of the mushrooms were positively correlated with potassium in the substrate. Therefore, 100% EFB could be used as a potential substitute for RWS for the cultivation and production of P. ostreatus.

Effects of pickling treatments and species on the properties of processed mushrooms (Pleurotus species)

Mushrooms are important macroscopic fungi, high in vitamins, minerals, proteins, and low in fats, but they are underutilized in developing countries due to seasonal scarcity, unavailability and misconception about fungi. The study focused on processing mushroom species by pickling and drying and; evaluating their chemical and physical properties. Four batches of pickled mushrooms were prepared from Pleurotus pulmonarius and Pleurotus ostreatus by pickling each species separately in vinegar and spiced brine solution for 19 hrs, followed by oven drying. The samples were analysed for physical and chemical properties using standard procedures. The research showed that there was insignificant difference (p&gt;0.05) in the protein (19.08-23.87%), fat (0.66-0.92%), crude fibre (19.25-25.89%) and carbohydrates (37.04-42.56%) content among both species and pretreatments. Pleurotus pulmonarius showed significantly higher calcium and magnesium content for both treatments than P. ostreatus. L* and b* values of the colour parameters showed that the samples were generally light and slightly yellowish (41.12– 60.41 and 10.84–17.32 respectively), with P. pulmonarius showing a significantly whiter colour for both treatments. Thus, pickling and drying of mushrooms could serve as preservative means for extending their shelf life, and the resulting product could serve as a substitute for meat in soups and stews.

Effect of bacterial volatiles on the mycelial growth of mushrooms

Bacteria play an important role in the life cycle of fungi by influencing positively or negatively morphological features, mycelial growth and/or fruiting body induction. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and their species-dependence, especially among fungi of the phylum Basidiomycota. Hence, we analyzed the effects of seven bacterial isolates, that were previously obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus HK35, on the mycelial growth of P. ostreatus HK35, Pleurotus eryngii DSMZ 8264, Pleurotus sapidus DSMZ 8266, Pleurotus citrinopileatus DSMZ 5341, Cyclocybe aegerita AAE-3, Lentinula edodes CBS 389.89 and Kuehneromyces mutabilis DSMZ 1013 during eight days. Notably, the bacterial isolates only showed significant mycelial growth-promoting effects when co-cultivated on Petri dishes with Pleurotus species, except for P. citrinopileatus. In particular, Paenibacillus peoriae strain M48F induced remarkably the mycelial growth in P. ostreatus (∼47 %), P. eryngii (∼32 %) and P. sapidus (∼27 %) during the early cultivation stages, but with ongoing cultivation this strain inhibited the growth of all fungi. To investigate the impact of bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the mycelial growth, P. ostreatus and P. eryngii were co-cultivated with the bacteria on bi-plates. No growth inhibition on bi-plates was observed while bacterial isolates and mycelia were separated by a physical barrier, assuring that late mycelial growth inhibition was not caused by bacterial volatile compounds. VOCs from strain M48F induced the strongest growth of P. ostreatus (∼50 %) and P. eryngii (∼20 %) mycelia compared to controls. Furthermore, we analyzed the VOCs of strain M48F alone and in combination with P. ostreatus, P. eryngii, P. sapidus and L. edodes using bi-plates and SPME-GC-MS. Strain M48F triggered the formation of β-bisabolene when co-cultivated with P. ostreatus or P. eryngii, which may indicate a fungal defense reaction. Additionally, 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine dominated the volatilome of strain M48F on all eight sampling days. In samples of strain M48F, alone and co-cultivated with L. edodes, the amount of 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine remained quite constant. In contrast, the quantity of this substance declined substantially in co-cultures with P. ostreatus. Interestingly, 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine enhanced P. ostreatus mycelial growth significantly although the growth-promoting effect was not as pronounced as during co-cultivation with strain M48F. Our results show that the mycelial growth-promoting effects of bacteria are remarkably species-dependent, and that bacterial VOCs such as 2,5-diisopropylpyrazine can enhance mycelial growth.

Untargeted Metabolomics Used to Describe the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effects of Extracts from Pleurotus spp. Mycelium Grown in Different Culture Media.

Pleurotus species isolated in vitro were studied to determine the effect of different media on their production of secondary metabolites, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity. The different metabolites among Pleurotus samples covered a total of 58 pathways. Comparisons were made between the metabolic profiles of Pleurotus spp. mycelia grown in two substrates: Potato-dextrose-agar-PDA, used as control (S1), and PDA enriched with 0.5 % of wheat straw (S2). The main finding was that the metabolic pathways are strongly influenced by the chemical composition of the growth substrate. The antibacterial effects were particularly evident against Escherichia coli, whereas Arthroderma curreyi (CCF 5207) and Trichophyton rubrum (CCF 4933) were the dermatophytes more sensitive to the mushroom extracts. The present study supports more in-depth investigations, aimed at evaluating the influence of growth substrate on Pleurotus spp. antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Mycelial Growth and Basidiocarp Production of Pleurotus Species in Substrates Supplemented with Fermented Plant Juice

Pleurotus species are the common mushrooms popularly cultivated in the Philippines while Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) is a known organic concoction which can help crops to grow. This study aimed to find out the effects of FPJ on the mycelial growth, basidiocarp production and sensory attributes of different species of Pleurotus in culture media, grain spawn and fruiting substrates supplemented with varying amounts of FPJ. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design and replicated thrice for culture media and grain spawn; and replicated ten times for the fruiting substrates. P. florida in 20 ml culture media supplemented with 2.4 ml of the 120 ml FPJ solution had the fastest mycelial growth while P. citronipleatus in grain spawn supplemented with water had the fastest mycelial growth. P. ostreatus grown in 750 g dry weight of fruiting substrates supplemented with 150 ml of FPJ had 6.83 higher yield than the control, thus higher profitability and Return on Investment (ROI). Significant differences were also observed on the sensory attributes such as taste, aroma and general acceptability. Majority of the respondents liked P. florida which is considered as very much palatable. As the concentration of FPJ become higher, the taste becomes better.

Three Pleurotus mushroom species cultivated in a mixed Phragmites australis substrate differ in nutrient utilization capacity

Phragmites australis (common reed) distributed in brackish or saline wetlands, with significant ecological and economic values. Cultivating edible fungi is an exciting and developing field in reed utilization, and proven to be a viable technology. However, it remains unclear how nutrient utilization efficiency differs between mushroom species. Globally, Pleurotus ostreatus is the easily and most bagged cultivated mushroom. Therefore, three Pleurotus species were used to investigate the nutrient utilization of reed. A 2-year cultivation experiment was conducted during which three mushroom flushes were obtained. A significant difference in fresh weight was only found in the first harvest of the three mushroom species. A comparison of fruit quality characteristics of the first flush revealed the highest levels to be as follows, respectively: fresh weight in P. ostreatus (57.4%), total sugar content in P. eryngii (69.0%), and crude protein (28.3%) and amino acids levels in P. citrinopileatus. Glusate and histidine were the main amino acid components in P. citrinopileatus. Besides, iron and zinc could be heavily enriched in P. ostreatus. Heavy metals were the highest in P. ostreatus, but they were below the National Food Safety Standards. Generally, P. ostreatus had the highest biological efficiency, while P. eryngii had the highest carbon utilization and P. citrinopileatus had the highest nitrogen utilization efficiency.

First record of the occurrence of Pleurotus species on new hosts in Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Mushrooms have wide geographical distribution, with greatest commercial importance, both in temperate areas and tropical regions of the world. The agarics mycota of tropical eco-regions of Bangaluru, Karnataka was surveyed in different seasons from 2019 to 2020 for collection and identification of fungal samples. Detailed macroscopic and microscopic study of fungal samples was identified as Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. P. ostreatus (Jack.) P. Kumm. P. populinus O. Hilber &amp; O. K. Mill. For the first time, P. pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél was causing stem decay in Mangifera indica L. was reported from India. New host record of P. populinus O. Hilber &amp; O. K. Mill on Spathodea campanulata was reported from India. The 3 species of Pleurotus was reported for the first time from the study area of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Whole-genome sequence of a high-temperature edible mushroom Pleurotus giganteus (zhudugu).

Most of the sequenced wood-rotting edible mushroom produce fruiting body at relatively low temperatures. Little information has been known about the high-temperature wood-rotting mushroom. Here, we performed de novo sequencing and assembly of the genome of a high-temperature edible mushroom Pleurotus giganteus from a monokaryotic strain zhudugu2 using the Illumina and Pac-Bio CLR sequencing technologies. P. giganteus, also known as Zhudugu in China, is a well-known culinary edible mushroom that has been widely distributed and cultivated in China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The genome consists of 40.00 Mb in 27 contigs with a contig N50 of 4.384 Mb. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that P. giganteus and other strains in Pleurotus clustered in one clade. Phylogenetic analysis and average nucleotide identity analysis indicated that the P. giganteus genome showed a closer relationship with other Pleurotus species. Chromosome collinearity analysis revealed a high level of collinearity between P. ostreatus and P. giganteus. There are 12,628 protein-coding genes annotated in this monoploid genome. A total of 481 enzymes accounting for 514 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) terms were identified in the P. giganteus genome, including 15 laccases and 10 class II peroxidases predicted in the genome, which revealed the robustness of lignocellulose degradation capacity of P. giganteus. The mating-A type locus of P. giganteus consisted of a pair of homeodomain mating-type genes HD1 and HD2. The mating-B type locus of P. giganteus consisted of at least four pheromone receptor genes and three pheromone genes. The genome is not only beneficial for the genome-assisted breeding of this mushroom but also helps us to understand the high-temperature tolerance of the edible mushroom.

Cultivation of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus florida) on Sawdust

The study was conducted at Department of Rural Technology, HNB Garhwal University Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand during 2018-2019 for cultivation of Pleurotus species (Pleurotus florida) on three different treatments of Sawdust i.e. T1 (Sawdust), T2 (Sawdust 70% +Rice bran 30% ) and T3 (Sawdust, 80% + 20% rice bran. The study was examined for spawn running (mycelia development), pinhead formation and fruit body formation and yield production. Among all the treatments T2 (Sawdust 70% +Rice bran 30%) was found most favourable for oyster mushroom (Fleurotus florida) cultivation.

New combination in the genus Hohenbuehelia (Pleurotaceae)

We studied the type specimens of Pleurotus komarnitzkyi to clarify its taxonomic status. Unlike other species in this genus which grow on wood, P. komarnitzkyi is ecologically distinct as it grows at the base of woody stems of desert herbaceous plants. In addition, its fruiting bodies are small in size, which is not typical for the Pleurotus species. Substrate preferences and morphology of fruiting bodies of P. komarnitzkyi resemble those of Hohenbuehelia species. Based on an analysis of ITS and LSU nrDNA sequences, we propose a new combination in the genus Hohenbuehelia.