Effect of various substrate sterilization methods and age of spawn on the growth and bioefficiency of Pleurotus florida

This study was designed to investigate the effect of various substrate sterilization methods and age of spawn on the growth and bioefficiency of Pleurotus florida, white oyster mushroom. The spawn of P. florida was prepared from the culture slants. The spawn of varying age viz. 25 days, 35 days and 45 days were chosen for the study. The processed paddy straw substrate was used for preparing the mushroom beds. The substrate was sterilized using three different methods viz. chemical, boiling water and steam. The days for spawn run, days for pin headed appearance, days for first harvest, second harvest and third harvest, yield in first harvest, second harvest and third harvest were observed and recorded. All the parameters were compared and results showed that paddy straw substrate sterilized by steam gave better results with fast and optimum growth followed by boiling water sterilization. Chemically sterilized substrate gave low yield compared to other substrates. Among the different age of spawn used, 35 days spawn gave better results compared to 45 days spawn. 25 days spawn inoculated beds gave low yield than others. Accordingly, bioefficiency was also high in steam sterilized substrate followed by boiling water sterilization and chemical sterilization. The study confirmed that steam sterilized substrate and 35 days spawn are very appropriate for the cultivation of white oyster mushroom, Pleurotus florida.