Abstract:
Mushroom cultivation in Sri Lanka is a popular cottage industry having oyster
mushrooms as the most preferred variety. An investigation was carried out to study
the suitability of five different plant substrates (dried banana leaves, coconut leaves,
kakilla leaves (Dicranopteris dicnotonoma), paddy straw and sugar cane bagasses)
for oyster mushroom cultivation in comparison with standard saw dust media as the
control. Best substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation was adjudged by comparing
the mycelial growth rate and the fruiting body yield values in different substrates.
Although the highest mycelial growth rate was recorded in banana leaf substrate
followed by paddy straw and bagasses mixtures, higher mushroom yields were
recorded only in mixtures with paddy straw and bagasses which showed no
significant difference to the control. Therefore it could be concluded that paddy straw
and sugar cane bagasses are equally good substrates as the traditionally used saw
dust media for oyster mushroom cultivation in Sri Lanka.
