Cultivation of Schizophyllum commune mushroom on different wood substrates

Schizophyllum commune is an edible mushroom grown on wood under natural conditions. Present study focused on cultivation of S.commune on different wood substrates since it is not commercially cultivated. A pure culture of S. commune was obtained by growing a tissue of the mushroom on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium. Spawns were produced by growing the mycelium on paddy grains. Mushroom was cultivated on sawdust of seven different wood substrates. The maximum yield was observed in sawdust of jackfruit ( Artocarpus heterophyllus ) followed by sawdust of rambutan ( Nephelium lappaceum ) and country almond ( Terminalia catappa ). A significant difference was not observed when mango ( Mangifera indica ) elephant apple ( Dillenia indica ), tulip wood tree ( Harpullia arborea ) and thungfaa ( Alstonia macrophylla ) sawdust used as substrate. The lowest yield was observed in thungfaa ( Alstonia macrophylla ) sawdust. Effect of some additives on the yield was studied and significant difference in yield was observed when rice bran and used-tea leaves used as additives. Effect of rice bran on yield was studied using different ratios of sawdust to rice bran and the highest was observed in 2:1 ratio of sawdust to rice bran. The best incubating temperature for mycelial growth on the substrate was 350C. The composition of the mushroom on a dry weight basis was; 71.4% moisture, 23.35% crude protein and 6% ash. Tested wood species are promising substrates for cultivation of S.communeas cottage industry.