Effect of Different substrate Disinfection Methods on the Production of Pleurotus ostreatus

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to estimate which of disinfection method is more effective in case of higher yield and fewer cost in cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus in rural areas.  For this purpose, four different treatments; scalping in hot water (60, 80 and 100°C), and chemical disinfection (1% formaldehyde) were compared with sterilization by autoclave. It has been noticed that method of disinfection affects mycelium growing duration(day), yield(g/kg), biological efficiency (BE%), avarage weight of fruitbody(g), diameter of pileus(cm), stipe lenght(cm) and width(cm).  P. ostreatus took significantly much time to colonise the substrate (19.9 days) disinfected by chemical disinfection compared with others. Chemical disinfection (271.28 g/kg and 91.96%) and scalding hot water at 80oC (263.42 g/kg and 90.83%) had highest productivity in terms of yield and BE, respectively, while scalding hot water at 60oC (136.08 g/kg and 46.92%) had least productivity. The largest diameter of fruitbody was obtained by scalding in hot water at 80oC, while the longest stipes were harvested in disinfected substrate by chemicals.  In conclusion, cheaper and more easily applecable scalping in hot water 80°C and chemical disinfection may be use for the disinfection of growing substrates instead of sterilization with autoclave in rural areas.Keywords: mushroom growing substrate, disinfection methods, autoclaved, scalding, chemical disinfection, Pleurotus ostreatus