Evaluating the production of Ganoderma mushroom on corn cobs

Abstract

Mushroom substrates are organic materials which mushroom mycelia can digest and which support growth, development and fruiting of mushrooms. Without good substrates, satisfactory yields of mushrooms will not be obtained. Consequently, finding good substrates on which to grow Ganoderma lucidum is of great importance to the medicinal world, and for mushroom farming in Namibia. The objective of this research was to determine the possibility of growing G. lucidum mushrooms on corn cobs as a substrate base in order to see if corn cobs can replace saw dust as a substrate of Ganoderma cultivation in Namibia. The corn cobs and saw dust (control) were sterilized, inoculated under aseptic conditions in clear plastic bags and incubated at room temperature. Fruit bodies were observed within 30 to 50 days, results considerably shorter compared to when using saw dust, which can take up to four months before mushrooms are obtained. This study demonstrated that corn cobs can be used as a substrate if supplemented with nutrients to support growth of the basidiocarp.

Performance of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom grown on maize stalk residues supplemented with various levels of maize flour and wheat bran

“…The nature and nutrient constituent of the mushroom substrate also have an effect on the mycelium growth, mushroom quality and crop yield (Baldrian & Val'aˇskov'a, 2008;Kües & Liu, 2000). One of the limiting factors in the cultivation of mushrooms is that the availability of a good substrate is essential in order to promote satisfactory yield of the mushrooms (Ueitele et al, 2014). A good substrate should consist of nitrogen supplement and carbohydrates in order to promote rapid growth of the mushroom (Ogundele et al, 2014).…”

Ganoderma research activities and development in Namibia: A review

“…In this study, pearl millet husk was considered a suitable supplement for sawdust substrate because it is soft and fine enough to absorb excess moisture and because of its fine hair-like structures to which the mycelia can attach and be propagated to the sawdust (Ueitele et al 2014a). In a different study by Ueitele et al (2014b), the experimental growing of Ganoderma on corn cobs produced a biological efficiency of 5.32%, which is extremely low compared to other studies. Similarly, according to Hamwenye (2020), the yield (0.762 g/kg) and biological efficiency (0.08%) obtained during cultivation of Ganoderma species in their study was very low compared to the yields (210.9-235.2 g/kg) and biological efficiencies (6.8-7.6%) reported by Roy et al (2015).…”

Isolation, Identification and Cultivation of Ganoderma spp. and Evaluation of Their Efficiency in Inhibiting Plant Pathogenic Fungi Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria tenuissima

“…The fruit bodies were washed several times with running water to remove dirt and dust, then the fruit bodies were cut into small pieces 0.5 cm 2, sterilized by 3% sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 minutes, followed by sterilization by 70% ethyl alcohol for 2 minutes, then washed with sterilized distilled water for 5 minutes, after which the cuttings were dried on sterile N0.1 whatman filter papers. 2-3 pieces were grown in the PDA medium, the plates were incubated at 25±2ºC for 7-10 days [12].…”