Suitability of three different cereal grains for spawn development and their impact on the growth and yield of Macrocybe gigantea (Massee) Pegler & Lod.

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation is an economical biotechnological process for the conversion of various unused lignocellulosic wastes into protein rich food. The present study was conducted to assess the suitability of three different cereal grains viz., bajra (Pennisetum glaucum L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) for spawn production of Macrocybe gigantea (Massee) Pegler & Lod. and further its cultivation on two agrowastes (wheat straw and paddy straw) for assessing biological efficacy. It was observed that among the three cereal grains tested, bajra grains took significantly (P<0.05) less time for spawn development. Moreover, a minimum period of spawn run (16.3 days), highest sporophore yield (343.6g/500g of dry substrate) and biological efficiency (68.7%) were also recorded from substrate bags inoculated with bajra grain spawn. These results sug-gest the use of bajra grain spawn for quick and successful cultivation of M. gigantea.