+441518081136Research Article - Journal of Plant Biotechnology and Microbiology (2023) Volume 6, Issue 4
Domestication of the wild edible mushroom, lentinus squarrosulus (mont.)
Mushroom cultivation in Nigeria is still in its infancy, with a focus on Pleurotus species rather than the more common Lentinus squarrosulus. The purpose of this study was to domesticate the wild edible mushroom Lentinus squarrosulus in order to ensure year- round availability. To obtain tissue culture, a fresh and immature fruiting body of L. squarrosulus was cultivated on malt extract agar. Actively growing mycelia were inoculated into grain spawn. Cultivation trials were conducted using sawdust from various wood species, including Treculia africana (African breadfruit), Magnifera indica (Mango), Dacryodes edulis (African pear), and mixed sawdust from various wood species. Substrates were composted, sterilized, inoculated with spawn of Lentinus squarrosulus and incubated. Growth was monitored, recorded and fruiting bodies harvested. Results of domestication trial revealed that mother culture was produced successfully from tissue culture of Lentinus squarrosulus. L. squarrosulus mycelia colonized all the substrates used to varied degrees with the colonization/ mycelial running time ranging from 30.4 days to 34.8 days. Mycelia running time on Treculia africana differed significantly from Dacryodes edulis. Fruiting bodies were successfully harvested with the maximum number of fruiting bodies (39.80) and highest mean yield of 89.03 g ± 29.41 obtained from Treculia africana in three flushes. This was followed by Magnifera indica (34.60, 54.27 g ± 14.64). Dacryodes edulis sawdust recorded the lowest yield (32.31 g± 11.34). Magnifera indica sawdust had the broadest pileus diameter (6.46 cm) and longest stipe (2.83 cm). In conclusion, Lentinus squarrosulus has the potential of being domesticated in Owerri, Imo State with Treculia africana sawdust as the ideal substrate for cultivation.
Author(s): Onyeka CA*, Ogbulie TE, Anyado- Nwadike OS, Ezeji EU, Okwujiako IA