THE EFFECT OF OIL PALM FRUIT FIBRES ON THE GROWTH OF MARASMIELLUS INODERMA (BERK.) SINGER

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of oil palm fruit fibres (OPFF) on the growth of Marasmiellus inoderma cultivated on sawdust. Marasamiellus inoderma is an edible mushroom indigenous to Nigeria, Togo, Benin and other West African countries. Substrate bags of sawdust were supplemented with oil palm fruit fibres at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% respectively. The bags were pasteurized and inoculated with spawn of Marasmiellus inoderma and incubated at room temperature for mycelial growth and fruiting to occur. Results indicated that the supplement affected the rate of mycelial growth, primordial emergence, fruits body formation and biological efficiency of the mushroom. Substrates supplemented with OPFF at 5% took 8 days to attain 50% (half) mycelial colonization of the bags. The bags treated with 5% OPFF took 14 days to attain 100% (full) mycelial colonization. Supplemented substrate at 20% OPFF had the shortest time (22 days) for primordial emergence, while 10% OPFF had the longest time (31 days) for primordial emergence. In terms of fruit body formation, the highest number of fruit body produced was recorded for 25% OPFF supplementation. Substrate supplemented with 25% OPFF gave the highest (30.75 ± 10.03) sporophore yield. The highest biological efficiency (B.E) (5.54) was obtained for 25% OPFF while the lowest B.E (2.29) was obtained at 20% OPFF. The findings obtained have proven that Marasmiellus inoderma was able to utilize the supplemented sawdust substrate for growth and production of fruit bodies. Oil palm fibre is a useful additive in the cultivation of Marasmiellus inoderma in Nigeria and it is helpful in utilizing waste thereby reducing waste in the environment and providing protein nutrient rich foods at the same time. Further studies is hereby recommended to investigate methods of increasing fruitbody yield and larger production using low cost materials.