Bioconversion of Selected Solid Wastes by Control Cultivation of Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus florida and its Nutrient Analysis

Abstract

Mushrooms are a source of nutrition particularly in respect of proteins and vitamins. It has been rightly called “vegetable meat”. Apart from being potential protein and energy source, mushrooms are famous for their medicinal values. In addition to their fascination for the gourmet, they are nature’s most active agents in the disposal of forest’s waste materials. Not only in disposing timber, but also helps in converting dead plants into available food. They are efficient agents, fitting into the nutrient cycle of farms and forests. As they utilize agricultural by products and wastes as their substrate, mushroom cultivation is an eco-friendly activity. In a country like India where vegeterians dominate, every attempt should be made to popularize a vegetable protein source like mushroom. A study on the cultivation of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus florida was undertaken. It was found to grow on various solid wastes viz. paddy straw, rice husk, saw dust, water hyacinth and a mixture of all the selected substrates. The oyster mushroom cultivated on the paddy straw gives the maximum yield with high content of protein, carbohydrate and lipid.