Impact of Different Substrates and Mother Cultures on Yield and Yield Attributes of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

Aim: This study was aimed to compare the performance of different substrates and mother culture materials on yield and yield parameters of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Study Design: This is an experimental study following Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were conducted in the Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka and Mushroom Development Institute, Savar, Dhaka from January 2019 to February 2020. Methodology: Accordingly, three substrates (sawdust, rice straw, sawdust + rice straw (1:1)) and three mother cultures (rice, maize, sawdust) were used in oyster mushroom cultivation. Results: Among the substrates and mother culture components, using rice straw and sawdust mother spawn, the maximum length of stipe was recorded (23.27 mm and 24.29 mm, respectively). Applying sawdust + rice straw (1:1) and maize mother spawn, the peak diameter of stipe was calculated (9.90 mm and 10.01 mm, respectively). The maximal diameter of pileus was observed in sawdust + rice straw (1:1) and rice mother spawn (72.90 mm and 67.57mm, respectively). With the application of rice straw and maize mother spawn, thickest pileus was viewed (5.60 mm and 5.47mm respectively). The sawdust and sawdust mother spawn delivered peak number of fruiting body (6.67 and 7.33, respectively). Among the substrates, rice straw gave the highest biological yield (44.40 g/packet) and sawdust gave the lowest (41.73 g/packet). Among the mother spawn, sawdust mother spawn presented the highest biological yield (45.47 g/packet) and maize mother spawn gave the lowest (39.16 g/packet). In the comparison of combined effect of substrates and mother spawn, sawdust mother spawn performed best in the biological yield (50.80 g/packet) with rice straw as substrate material and maize mother spawn showed comparatively lower biological yield (37.60 g/packet) with both sawdust and rice straw as substrate material. Conclusion: Rice straw and sawdust mother spawn can be recommended for its suitability in oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation.