Sprouting suppression and mushroom production after inoculation of Juglans x intermedia stumps with edible fungi species

Removal of stumps and suppression of sprouts after harvesting by conventional methods, such as using heavy machinery or herbicides, alters the physico-chemical characteristics of soil, may cause environmental damage and can be very costly. In this study, the performance of inoculation with edible fungi as a biological alternative for stump degradation, has been examined in walnut plantations of five Spanish provinces. Stumps were inoculated with two species of edible fungi: Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. Ex Fr.) P. Kumm and Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pene. Compared with untreated controls, the two biological treatments resulted in a significant and evident reduction of the sprouting probability, which was stronger than the result obtained with chemical treatments. Inoculated stumps also produced edible sporocarps, averaging 15.58 g per stump during the first year. This article constitutes the basis for the development of a sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective product, which is a bioeconomy-based solution for stump degradation in intensive plantations.