EFFECT OF MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MYCELIUM AND GROWTH OF THE OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS)

The objective of this study was to investigate the joint effects of the temperature, carbohydrate concentration, and pH value of the nutrient medium on the initial and final growth of the mycelium of two Pleurotus ostreatus strains. The experiment was carried out at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. The strains were grown in five climatic chambers, each with a different temperature (15 degreesC, 20 degreesC, 25 degreesC, 30 degreesC, and 35 degreesC). Three different concentrations of carbohydrates (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) and two pH values (5.0 and 6.0) of the medium were used to grow the mycelium and three replicates. It was concluded that the optimum mycelium growth of the two strains requires different conditions for initial growth in relation to the final growth, with respect to temperature, pH level and sugar concentration in the nutrient medium. The optimum relationship between nutrient medium and temperature was found to be strain-specific.