In mushroom cultivation, spawn is among the most important factors that ensure a successful production. Considering several drawbacks from both solid and liquid spawn in shelf life and preservation matters, it is suggested that the dry powder form of spawn is a good potential to explore. A study of powder culture formation using a spray dryer involved various inlet temperatures of 80 oC, 90 oC, 100 oC, 110 oC, 120 oC and 130 oC. The yield % of the dried powder culture was measured and it was found that 130 oC yielded the highest percentage of 50.33%. The lowest temperature yielded the lowest percentage. On the other hand, the lowest temperature of 80 oC revived the highest mycelium dry weight at 1.68 g which was obtained on the 10th day of the incubation periods. The revival ability was decreased with the increase of temperature. The study proved that the powder culture of P. pulmonarius was able to perform and revive whereby it holds a potential to be preserved over a longer period, which is beneficial for the mushroom cultivator.
ABSTRAK: Dalam penanaman cendawan, benih yang baik adalah antara faktor penting yang memastikan penghasilan tinggi. Terdapat beberapa kelemahan daripada benih pepejal dan cecair dalam memastikan jangka hayat berpanjangan serta memastikan benih dalam keadaan berkualiti sepanjang masa. Oleh itu, penghasilan benih cendawan dalam bentuk serbuk kering sangat berpotensi untuk diterokai. Kajian mengenai penghasilan kultur serbuk menggunakan semburan kering telah melibatkan pelbagai suhu salur masuk seperti 80 oC, 90 oC, 100 oC, 110 oC, 120 oC dan 130 oC. Peratus penghasilan kultur serbuk kering telah diukur dan didapati pada suhu 130 oC menghasilkan peratusan tertinggi iaitu sebanyak 50.33%, manakala suhu terendah menghasilkan peratusan terendah. Sebaliknya, suhu terendah pada 80 oC menumbuhkan semula berat kering miselium dengan bacaan tertinggi iaitu sebanyak 1.68 g diperoleh pada hari ke-10 tempoh inkubasi. Keupayaan menumbuh berkurangan dengan peningkatan suhu. Kajian membuktikan bahawa kultur serbuk P. pulmonarius mampu berfungsi dan tumbuh semula di mana ianya berpotensi disimpan dalam tempoh lama, ini berfaedah kepada penanaman cendawan.