ABSTRACT
This study investigates the impact of pH levels, carbon/sugars and vitamin sources on the growth of selected edible and medicinal mushrooms. The cultivation of these mushrooms holds both nutritional and therapeutic potentials. The research shows how variations in pH ranging from 4.5 to 9.0, carbon/sugars sucrose, maltose, starch and dextrose and vitamin sources riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine and ascorbic acid influence their growth rate, mycelial extension, biomass, morphology and density. The growth of Marasmeillus inoderma and Ganoderma lucidum, two important fungi, is usually influenced by various environmental factors. One of these factors is pH, which plays a crucial role in shaping their growth patterns. The effect of pH on the growth of these fungi has been extensively studied, revealing that different pH levels can either promote or inhibit their growth. pH 4.5 was the most suitable pH for Marasmeillus inoderma and pH 7.0 was least suitable. The most suitable pH for Ganoderma lucidum is pH 6.0 and pH 9.0 was the least suitable. Carbon serves as an essential nutrient for fungal metabolism, while vitamins play a vital role in their overall development The findings show the most suitable carbon/sugar for Marasmeillus inoderma to be starch and least for maltose which was the most suitable for Ganoderma lucidum and least for dextrose sugar. Riboflavin was the most suitable vitamin for Ganoderma lucidum and ascorbic acid was least suitable. Ascorbic acid was the most suitable for Marasmeillus inoderma and least for thiamine. Understanding the intricate relationship between pH, carbon/sugars, vitamin sources, and fungal growth is crucial for optimizing the cultivation conditions of these fungi for various applications, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture.
