Production of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus) and Shitake (Lentinula edodes) in Benguet [Philippines]

Results of the study revealed the following: high yielding and good quality mushrooms were produced in La Trinidad, Benguet [Philippines] using mature growing bags of P. sajor-caju no. 503 and L. edodes, BC1 strain, obtained from UPLB and Biofood Corporation, Inc. (BCI), Tagaytay City, respectively. Pleurotus mushrooms produced were attractive, fleshy, heavy in weight, succulent, and tender. Yield ranged from 900-1200 g from a four-month fruiting span. ROI [return on investment] ranged from 98-164 percent. Fruiting performance of shiitake was better in La Trinidad than Tagaytay. Shiitake in La Trinidad had beautiful, dark brown, fleshy basidiocarps. With total fruiting span of four months, yield obtained ranged from 1000-1,500 g with 100-150 percent ROI. Pleurotus grown in growing bags formulated out of indigenous wastes as substrates gave higher ROI of 181-240 percent compared to 161 percent from the traditional sawdust - rice bran formulation. Alternative main substrates recommended were rice straw, Themeda triandra, banana leaves and stalks, coffee pulp, alnus leaves, legume pods and used papers. Supplement substrates included indigenous azolla, Japonica indica, mulberry leaves, sunfower leaves, lima bean leaves, and peanut leaves. Palay grains or palay: sawdust: rice bran at 1:2:2 ratio were good alternative spawn substrates for Pleurotus. Palay grains can inoculate about the same number of bags (30) as sorghum grains (control), but at P2.00 less cost. However, in using palay grains, moisture tends to accumulate at the bottom making it a potential cause for contamination mixing sawdust to palay grains made moisture content regulation easier. P. sajor-caju growing bags with 60 percent moisture content had the best cap quality, longer fruiting span of 3.5 months, and higher percent successful bags. Sterilization for 7 and 10 hours eliminated contamination, with maximum fruiting span of 4 months. Hardening was necessary to acclimatize bags from the incubation room (28 deg C) to the growing house (16-21 deg C). Cold-treated mature growing bags need not be hardened. Movement shock applied to growing bags stimulated fruiting. Transfer of P. sajor-caju bags from one growing shelf to another resulted to 200 percent ROI. Push and pull movement shock applied to P. hybridus (white) resulted to early fruiting. Turning bags of L. edodes upside down after fruiting and leaving it to rest for 3-4 days before returning bags to normal standing position increased ROI to 200 percent. Water stress during this period was recommended. Water stress in fruiting bags right after harvest or while awaiting the next flush stimulated pinhead formation or reduced interval between flushes. One day water stress increased ROI to 250 percent for Pleutorus. Spent substrates for Pleurotus can be recycled as main substrate component at 1:3 ratio of spent susbtrate: fresh sawdust