The valorization of lignocellulosic residues and unconventional plant biomass offers a promising strategy for sustainable mushroom production within a circular bioeconomy framework. This study evaluated the suitability of four substrates, namely wheat straw, Typha latifolia (cattail) biomass, Ampelodesmos mauritanicus biomass, and coffee waste, for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus. The effects of two concentrations of glucose and potassium oxide on fungal colonization and fruiting performance were investigated under laboratory-scale conditions. The hypothesis was that substrate composition and nutrient supplementation would differentially influence mycelial development and mushroom production. Mycelial growth was evaluated through daily measurements of colony expansion, whereas fruiting performance was assessed through mushroom yield. Substrate type significantly affected both mycelial growth and yield. A. mauritanicus showed high potential for mycelial colonization, particularly after supplementation with glucose (20 g/L) or potassium (10 g/L). For fruiting body production, potassium supplementation improved cattail performance, with the highest yield obtained with 20 g/L potassium. Glucose and potassium supplementation also enhanced the productivity of A. mauritanicus. All tested fertilization concentrations increased P. ostreatus fructification from 1.5 to 8%, except when glucose was added to the coffee waste substrate. The tested supplementation rates had substrate-dependent effects, confirming that nutrient addition did not produce a universal response. Mineral analysis of harvested mushrooms revealed differences in nutritional composition among treatments. These results highlight the potential of cattail and A. mauritanicus biomass as alternative substrates for P. ostreatus cultivation. Further economic feasibility studies are required before scale-up applications.
Pleurotus sapidus cultivation provides an efficient approach for converting lignocellulosic agricultural wastes into nutritious food products. The present study evaluated the suitability of different substrate compositions for the growth, yield, and biological efficiency of P. sapidus under laboratory conditions. Five substrate treatments were tested in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications: T1 (100% wheat straw), T2 (100% cotton waste), T3 (50% wheat straw + 50% office scrap paper), T4 (50% cotton waste + 50% office scrap paper), and T5 (rice straw + wheat straw + coconut coir mixture). Parameters including spawn running period, pinhead initiation, fruiting body development, total yield, and biological efficiency were recorded and statistically analyzed using ANOVA followed by LSD test at P ≤ 0.05. Significant differences were observed among substrate treatments for all measured parameters. T2 (100% cotton waste) showed the best performance, producing the highest yield (685.83 g) and biological efficiency (137%), along with reduced spawn running and fruiting durations. In contrast, T4 exhibited the lowest yield (154.80 g) and biological efficiency (30.96%). Intermediate results were obtained in T1, T3, and T5. The findings indicate that cotton waste is a promising substrate for P. sapidus cultivation under controlled conditions and may contribute to sustainable utilization of agricultural residues for mushroom production.
Keywords: Pleurotus sapidus, lignocellulosic, Complete Randomized Design and substrate.
Rimsha Nawaz Rimsha Nawaz, Nasir Ahmad Khan Nasir Ahmad Khan· Phytopathogenomics and Disea...· 0 citations
Cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus on locally available lignocellulosic substrates represents a sustainable approach to food production and organic waste valorization. Consequently, the objective of this paper was to evaluate the growth performance, yield parameters, and biological efficiency of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) cultivated on wood sawdust substrates of Gmelina arborea (timber) and Garcinia kola (bitter kola) supplemented with municipal organic wastes, compared with rice bran as a conventional supplement at Awka, Nigeria using appropriate standard methods. Results showed that all substrates were suitable for cultivation, with TOC ranging from 40.15±0.21 to 49.21±1.10% and moisture content from 6.50±2.50 to 10.01±3.77 %. The combination of Gmelina arborea sawdust and rice bran produced the best performance, recording the shortest spawn running time (14.5 ± 0.8 days), highest number of fruiting bodies (6), greatest fresh weight (98 ± 12 g), and highest BE (89.09 %), significantly outperforming other treatments (p < 0.05). In contrast, the lowest BE (43.09 %) was observed in Garcinia kola sawdust supplemented with open-dump waste. Gmelina arborea supplemented with decomposed waste achieved a high BE (84.3 %), comparable to the control. This study shows that properly processed municipal organic waste, particularly decomposed landfill waste, can effectively substitute conventional supplements, promote cost-effective mushroom production and support circular economy and food security initiatives.
C. G. Anaukwu, S. C. Anyaenewusim, C. G. Obi et al.· Journal of Applied Sciences...· 0 citations
The increasing generation of lignocellulosic agricultural residues presents both an environmental challenge and an opportunity for resource recovery within the circular bioeconomy. In Tanzania, banana leaves and sugarcane bagasse are among the most abundant biodegradable wastes generated from agricultural activities, local markets, and sugarcane juice vendors. These residues are commonly disposed of through open dumping or burning, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, environmental pollution, and the loss of valuable biomass resources. This study investigated an integrated biomass valorization strategy that converts banana leaves and sugarcane bagasse into edible oyster mushrooms and nutrient-rich biofertilizer through a circular resource recovery pathway.
Four substrate treatments were evaluated for physicochemical properties, mushroom growth, yield, nutritional quality, and spent-substrate compost quality. Substrate composition significantly affected performance. Although pure banana leaves supported the fastest mycelial colonization, the 2:1 banana-leaf-to-bagasse mixture produced the highest biological efficiency (60%), cap diameter (8.0 cm), and crude protein content (31.0%). It also generated the best compost, containing 1.5% nitrogen, 0.7% phosphorus, 2.0% potassium, and a 16:1 C:N ratio. The findings demonstrate a practical, low-cost strategy for Tanzania and comparable regions, reducing agricultural waste, producing nutritious food, improving soil fertility, supporting climate-smart agriculture, and advancing SDGs 2, 11, 12, and 13.
Lightness Mrema· International Journal For Mu...· 0 citations
Agriculture plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy; however, increasing population growth and rapid urbanization have created major challenges related to food security, sustainable waste management, and agricultural productivity. Mushroom cultivation, particularly Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius), offers a sustainable approach to address these issues due to its nutritional value, economic importance, and ability to grow on lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels contain nutrients and fiber components that may support mushroom growth and improve substrate quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different substrate combinations on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius under controlled conditions. Different treatments consisting of wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels were prepared and assessed using growth and yield parameters, including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, fruiting body development, and mushroom yield. The study hypothesized that supplementation of conventional substrates with nutrient-rich agricultural wastes could enhance mushroom production efficiency. The results indicated variations among substrate treatments in terms of growth and production performance. Substrates supplemented with pomegranate peels and spent coffee grounds showed comparatively improved mushroom growth and yield characteristics compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that agricultural waste-based substrate combinations may enhance the cultivation efficiency of Pleurotus pulmonarius while also contributing to sustainable recycling of agro-industrial residues.
Keywords: Food security, urbanization, oyster mushroom, pomegranate and coffee grounds.
M. Akhtar, Nasir Ahmad Khan· Phytopathogenomics and Disea...· 0 citations
This study explores the potential of integrating agro-wastes with bamboo biochar to develop optimized substrates for cultivating Lentinus squarrosulus, aiming to enhance mycelial growth, productivity, nutritional quality, and economic returns. The chemical characterization revealed clear contrasts between sawdust and corn dust, where sawdust provided a carbon-rich but nitrogen-limited structure, while corn dust offered a greater nutrient availability. When formulated into mixed substrates, particularly at a 50:50 ratio, a more balanced physicochemical profile was achieved, improving substrate suitability for fungal growth. The incorporation of biochar (1–10%) further enhanced substrate performance by improving porosity, nutrient retention, and pH stability. Among treatments, mixed substrates supplemented with 5–10% biochar exhibited the highest mycelial growth rates and dense colonization, significantly reducing contamination rates. These conditions facilitated production cycles, with earlier primordia formation and harvesting compared to single-substrate systems. Yield performance was markedly improved in mixed formulations, especially those containing 1–5% biochar, which produced the highest fruiting body numbers, weights, and total yields. Biological efficiency exceeded 99% in optimal treatments, indicating highly efficient substrate conversion. Nutritional analysis demonstrated that substrate composition also influenced mushroom quality, with corn dust enhancing protein content, while mixed substrates promoted balanced fiber, carbohydrate, and energy profiles. Economic evaluation confirmed that integrating agro-wastes with moderate biochar levels significantly increased profitability, with the 50:50 sawdust–corn dust formulation supplemented with 5% biochar yielding the highest returns. Overall, this study highlights that strategic substrate design, balancing lignocellulosic structure, nutrient availability, and physicochemical properties, can substantially improve mushroom productivity and economic viability.
Worrawoot Aiduang, Orlavanh Xayyavong, Kritsana Jatuwong et al.· Journal of Fungi· 0 citations
The use of microbial biostimulants has become an important strategy for improving the productivity and quality of soilless vegetable production systems. However, the potential role of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in hydroponic crop production remains insufficiently explored. This study evaluated the effects of three LAB strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Levilactobacillus brevis (LB), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP), their combined mixture, and a commercial PGPR-based product, Rhizofill, on the growth, yield, physiological performance, and nutritional quality of lettuce grown in a floating hydroponic system. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions using Batavia-type lettuce cv. ‘Caipira’ in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Bacterial suspensions were applied to the nutrient solution at 7-day intervals. Bacterial inoculations significantly improved plant growth, yield, SPAD chlorophyll index, leaf sap EC, and antioxidant-related quality traits compared with the untreated control. Among the tested treatments, LP showed the strongest overall performance, increasing plant fresh weight and total yield by 34.0% and 36.0%, respectively, compared with the control. LP also enhanced total phenolic, flavonoid, and L-ascorbic acid contents, indicating a simultaneous improvement in productivity and nutritional quality. LB was particularly effective in promoting root fresh weight and produced the lowest nitrate accumulation among all treatments. Compared with Rhizofill, LP showed equal or superior performance in several growth and quality parameters, suggesting that selected LAB strains may provide an effective alternative to conventional PGPR-based microbial biostimulants. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of LAB, particularly L. plantarum, as emerging microbial biostimulants for sustainable hydroponic lettuce production.
B. Ikiz, H. Daşgan, İlker Yıldız et al.· International Journal of Agr...· 0 citations
