Mushroom fruiting body yield and morphological characteristics from different strains of Pleurotus eryngii

Abstract

Pleurotus eryngii is a new entrant into commercial cultivation, hence the need to optimize factors that affect yield and biological efficiency (BE) during cultivation. Two local isolates/strains, IBK 2032 and 2033, and a commercial strain, 2600, were studied for commercial cultivation suitability. Strain 2032 reached pinning 37.3 ± 0.9 days after inoculation, followed by 2033, 43.2 ± 1.2, and the last 2600 was 57.4 ± 4.8 days. Strains 2032, 2033, and 2600 attained the harvesting stage at 49.2 ± 6.1, 53.1 ± 3.2, and 68 ± 3.4 days, respectively, after inoculation. In fruiting body (FB) yield and BE, strain 2032 had 603.5 ± 9.2 g and 47.5% ± 6.6%, respectively, per bag; strain 2600 gave the least yield and BE. Strains 2032 and 2033 showed individual FB weight distribution values that displayed right-sided asymmetry, with coefficients of 1.73 and 1.31, respectively, whereas strain 2600 had a coefficient of 1.09. The cap diameter was largest in strain 2033 (59.7 mm), and the least (46.4 mm) was in strain 2600. Strain 2032 had the best results among all parameters measured, except for FB height. The results indicated yield, BE, and FB morphological characteristics in the local isolates that could support longer shelf life and consumer appeal.