Growth period, yield, and nutrient contents of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer grown on some local agricultural wastes in Turkey

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation is known as an economically viable biotechnology process for the conversion of various agricultural wastes. Growing edible foods with high market value on these wastes may be one of the ways to meet the food demand of the increasing population. In this study, the effects of some local lignocellulosic substrates on the vegetative growing periods, yield, and nutritional values of Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer were investigated. Mycelium growing days, primordia initiation days, total harvest days, and total yields of P. citrinopileatus grown on wheat straw (WS), quinoa stalk (QS), and mixture of wheat-quinoa stalk (WS-QS (1:1)) were determined as 11.5-12.8 days, 25.8-36.5 days, 61.8-90.5 days, and 18.9-29.6 g/100 g, respectively. There was no statistical difference in terms of mycelium growing days, but significant differences were observed in terms of primordium initiation days, total harvest days, and total yields. The lowest total yield per 100 g of material (70% moisture) was 13.9 g on WS, and the highest yield was 29.6 g on QS. In the culture of P. citrinopileatus, QS media was observed to be the best compost material in terms of total yield, harvest, and earliness. Dry matter, moisture, energy, crude protein, fat, ash, organic matter, and nitrogen-free extract were 91.6-91.9%, 8.1-8.4%, 283.3-307.8 kcal, 23.0-44.9%, 2.0-2.1%, 7.9-10.5%, 20.3-46.8%, 81.1-83.7%, and 21.2-46.8% dry weight, respectively. Energy, crude protein, ash, and nitrogen-free extract varied significantly, and the highest protein content was obtained in QS (44.9%). It has been observed that P. citrinopileatus is beneficial in terms of vitamins A, C, E, MDA, and nutritious elements, but low in fat and energy value. Furthermore, toxic elements and Pb, Co, Ni, and Cd concentrations were under the detection limit of the method used. P. citrinopileatus is an excellent food that can be used in a balanced diet due to its low in fat and energy content and high in protein, vitamins and various minerals.