ABSTRACT

 Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus var florida (fr.) singer) was cultivated on different agrowastes. Andropogon gayanus straw. Oryza sativa straw (rice straw), Pennisetum purpurea straw, Treculia Africana bark, Andropogon + Pennisetum, (50:50) Andropogon + Treculia (50:50) and Pennisetum + Treculia (50:50). The fruit-body yield of the mushroom on the seven substrates and the effect of the substrates on the phytochemical compounds, alkaloid, flavonoid, HCN, phenol and steroid contents of the fruit-bodies were investigated. The cultivation of this species involved the bulking up ofthe mother spawn, substrate preparation, inoculation, mushroom fruitbody growth and harvesting. The investigation showed that Andropogon + Pennisetum showed a significantly higher mean number of fruit-bodies (68.65a), followed by Andropogon + Treculia (60.67b) while the least was from Pennisetum + Treculia (38.33d). Similarly the other cultivation parameters followed the same trend as in the number of fruit-bodies. The biological efficiency (B.E) for the seven substrates are (9 ± 883b) (8 ± 941ab) (10 ± 307b) (8 ± 767ab) (12 ±533c) (7 ± 826a) (7 ± 513a) for tire substrates respectively .The results of the myco-chemical revealed that Pennisetum + Treculia had the highest content of alkaloid (6.37 ± 0.03a). Followed by Andropogon + Treculia (6.26 ± 0.01b) and the least from rice straw (4.84 ± 0.018). The flavonoid content ranged from rice (3.73 ±0.01a) followed by Andropogon (2.42 ± 0.02b) and the least is Pennisetum + Treculia (1.08 ± 0.01g). HCN content was low generally but highest in Rice, Pennisetum and Treculia (0.024 ± 0.01abc) (0.024 ± 0.01abc) (0.024 ± 0.0lb) respectively. Phenol content was highest in Pennisetum + Treculia (2.39 ± 0.02a) followed by Treculia (2.35 ± 0.01b) • the least (2.08 ± 0.01s) in rice straw. Steroid has (0.68 ± 0.01a) contents in Pennisetum +Treculia . followed by (0.62 ± 0.0lb) in both Treculia and Andropogon + Pennisetum and the least (0.36 ± 0.016) in Pennisetum. There is significant variability in the chemical content of the substrates hence with appreciable quantities in all the substrates. The implication of this investigation shows that this substrates and their supplementation is acceptable in the production of the mushroom. They will give good and beneficial quality. Using the substrates will also help to solve waste disposal problems in our country. .