EFFECTS OF GRAIN TYPES ON THE PRODUCTION OF SELECTED MUSHROOMS

ABSTRACT

Spawn is pure culture of mycelium growing on a solid substrate such as grain. Mushroom spawn has a fundamental role in global agricultural productivity. Its production has not been adopted by many farmers due to insufficient knowledge of scientific techniques needed for spawn production and mushroom cultivation. The most frequently used substrates for spawn production in Nigeria is Sorghum; reasons been that it is cheap and readily available. In this study, wheat (Triticum aestivum), Millet (Panicum millaceum), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) were used as substrates in 3 replicates for the production of grain mother spawns of Marasmiellus inoderma(Berkeley), Pleurotus ostreatus(jacquin) and Ganoderma lucidum(Curtis). Linear mycelium extension was measured and recorded daily. The mushroom seed (spawn) was grown by inoculating the tissue of a fully grown Marasmiellus inoderma, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Ganoderma lucidum into PDA (Potato dextrose agar) and incubated at room temperature 25o c for mycelial growth until full colonization of the media. Three to five agar block of the mushrooms were cut and inoculated into the colonized bottles. It took about 4-6 days for the spawn production to colonized under atmospheric condition.