Agaricus blazei production on non-composted substrates based on sunflower seed hulls and spent oyster mushroom substrate

Abstract

Agaricus blazei Murrill is usually cultivated using the same biphasic composting method employed for A. bisporus. Because cultivation of A. blazei on traditional A. bisporus composts poses some disadvantages, non-composted substrates were studied for A. blazei cultivation. Mycelial growth rate and productive performance of A. blazei were evaluated on substrates containing sunflower seed hulls, Pleurotus spp. spent mushroom substrate, or their combination, in the absence or in the presence of different supplements (vermicompost, peat or brewery residues). Substrates were prepared by initially soaking them and then they were sterilized (1 atm for 120 min). In addition, each substrate's degradation was measured after cultivation by obtaining the lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, organic matter, total fiber, ash, carbon and nitrogen contents before spawn-run and at the end of two flushes of A. blazei. The cultivation of A. blazei on non-composted substrates is possible and with a low rate of contamination when using the spent mushroom substrate as the main component or combined 50:50 with sunflower seed hulls. In addition, the best yields were obtained on those substrates containing spent Pleurotus mushroom substrate with supplements and those mixtures with sunflower seed hulls and vermicompost. These yields were similar to those reported on composted substrates. Substrate changes in composition measured at the end of two flushes indicate that the lignin-hemicellulose fraction was preferentially used and that the substrates exhibiting the best yield showed greater biodegradation of lignin-hemicellulose fraction than the others did.

Anaerobically digested food waste in compost for Agaricus bisporus and Agaricus subrufescens and its effect on mushroom productivity

“…Values above 8 are high compared to a substrate pH of 5.07 used by de Andrade et al . and 7.5 by González Matute et al . According to Neves et al ., who investigated growth of mycelium on sterilised agar media, no strains of A. subrufescens would grow on substrates with a pH above 8.…”

“…In experiment 3 the pH values corresponding to higher yield were around 8, while the top range (8.2-8.25) gave lower yields. Values above 8 are high compared to a substrate pH of 5.07 used by de Andrade et al 36 and 7.5 by González Matute et al 35 According to Neves et al, 37 who investigated growth of mycelium on sterilised agar media, no strains of A. subrufescens would grow on substrates with a pH above 8. They recommended pH values around 7 since lower values would encourage moulds.…”

“…According to Eira et al 19 even a much higher C/N ratio (up to 150/1) will in fact yield just as well as 37/1, but claim at the same time that this is probably not due to the preferred ratio for wileyonlinelibrary.com/jsfa the fungus itself, but that low C/N ratios tend to entail higher losses from pests such as Sciaridae flies, which are responsible for up to 50% yield reduction under Brazilian commercial conditions. González Matute et al 35 investigated the use of sunflower seed hulls in substrate for this species. They also used an initial C/N ratio of 37, and achieved a BE of 300-470 g kg −1 from two flushes.…”

Mushroom cultivation in the circular economy

“…This SMS can be used for production of Pleurotus sajor-caju mushrooms (Royse 1992 ) but a 20% higher production is obtained by supplementing 10% wheat bran and 10% millet. Similarly, button mushrooms of Agaricus blazei can be produced on straw-based SMS from oyster mushroom cultivation complemented with 20% vermi-compost or sunflower seed hulls (González Matute et al 2011 ). These production levels are similar when compared to standard compost.…”

Recycling of spent mushroom substrate: Utilization as feed material for the larvae of the yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…In terms of the scale of utilization, large amounts of SMS have been used as fertilizer, as SMS possesses all essential attributes of organic manure after recomposting by natural weathering or any other process [6,7]. SMS has been used as a substrate for culturing the same or other edible fungi [8,9] and has been used for producing bacteria [10]. Due to its loose porous structure and unique biological properties, SMS can also be used as a biosorbent [11,12] in wastewater treatment [13] or for the microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for environmental protection [14].…”