Effect of different spawn rates and substrate supplementation on yield of Indian Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different spawn rates and substrate supplementation on yield of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel. Among six spawn rates viz., 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%, respectively tried on wheat straw substrate, the spawn run was fastest (10.50 days) when spawn dose was 8%, followed by 6%, 4%, 2%, 1% and 0.5%, respectively. The pinheads appeared in 12.27 days by using spawn @ 8%, which proved to be the best spawn dose followed by 6%, 4%, 2%, 1% and 0.5%, respectively. Highest yield of 168.7 per 200g dry substrate was achieved @ 8% spawn rate. Lesser yields were recorded when spawn rate was reduced. The results also reveals the significantly highest biological efficiency of 84.33% at 8% spawn rate followed by 6%, 4%, 2%, 1% and 0.5%, respectively. It was concluded that spawn run was rapid at higher spawn rate but there was not much difference in yield when spawn dose was increased from 4 to 8%. Considering spawn cost and performance shown by different doses, 2-4% was found optimum dose for its cultivation.In case of substrate supplementation, wheat straw supplemented with cotton seed meal supported maximum mycelial growth (10.50 days of inoculation) and took mini-mum time for pinheads initiation (13.67 days). Similarly, maximum yield (155.3g) with biological efficiency of 77.65% was recorded on wheat straw supplemented with cotton seed meal followed by supplementation of saw dust, wheat straw (control), calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN), ammonium nitrateand urea, respectively. These studies will help to mushroom growers for selecting the most suitable spawn rate and also opens viable option of supplementation as wheat straw + cotton seed meal for better growth behaviour and optimum yield potential of Pleurotus pulmonarius as well as other oyster mushrooms cultivation.