ABSTRACT

Different growth media an4 environmental variables of temperature and pH affected the vegetative growth of  osirealus var florida. AdropogHo straw produced significantly higher mycelial extension (13.48cm), more numerous ftuit-bodies (27.25) and heavier fruit-bodies (56.65g) (P< 0.01) than the other three agrc-wastes used. The least mycehal extension, number and weight of fruit-bodies were recorded from Pa,,jcu,n. Amendment, of Andropogon straw with 5% and 10% levels of manure did not significantly affect fruit-body number, (P<0.05), while its amendment with 5% cow dung and 5% turkey droppings resulted in higher fruit-body ftesh weight 66.82 and 54.38g respectively) than those from th rest of the amendments hut not ftom the control substrate (67.44g). Similarly, amending the straw significantly reduced the pileus and stipe.sizes. Among ihe plastic pail hole sizes of 7cm, 8cm, 9cm and 10 cm investigated, 9cm hole size resulted in significantly higher fruit-body number, heavier fruit-bodies, wider pileus and longer stipe than those produced in the other hole siz:. The stipe length of the fruit-bodies produced in all the other hole sizes were not significantly different. For hole numbers of 54, 63, 72 or 81, investigated, plastic buckets with 72 or 63 holes produced larger and heavier fruit-bodies than 54 and 81 holes. The pileus diameter or the stipe length did not significantly vary with hole number. Friut-bodics from Andropogon straw showed the highest activity (0.39 ± 0.06), while rice and Ik'nnise/tia, straws showed close activity of 0.46 ± 0. 13 and 0.46 ± 0.01 respectively. Amendmtn of the substrate did not influence the moisture content and fat and oil contents of the mushroom while the ash content varied significantly from 1% in Andropogon straw with o)% cow dung to 4% in AS plus 5% CD. Similarly, dietary fibre content was significantly highest in fruit bodies produced on AS + 10% chicken droppings (PD) and lowesi in those produced on AS + 10% CD, but not significantly different from those produced un the control and Pe,i,iiseium straw (PS) (P<0.05). The un-supplemented PS produced mure carbohydrates than the supplemented AS. The mineral contents of the fruit-bodies 'mrn the substrates with 10% organic manure in each case were higher than those wiTh 5% additive. A similar trend was observed in the other elements for the two levels each of chicken and turkey droppings. The control yielded significantly lower macro-elements than other treatments. Fruit-bodies harvested from AS had significantly lower v amins than those obtained from AS supplemented with 5 and 10% CD. Similarly, 5 nd 10% chicken manure did not affect vitamins content of the fruit bodies. Niacin and rbotlavin increased with increased level of supplementation. Straw with 10% cow dung produced mushooms with 0.05% alkaloids while those from the control straw continued only 0.02%. Supplementation with 5 or 10% chicken droppings and 5 or 10°/n turkey droppings significantly affected flavonoids content, while supplementation with S and 10% manure did not affect phenolic content, (P < 0.05). The quantities of spoon and tannin were suppressed by high level of supplementation (P < 0.05). The results ci the investigations were discussed in relation to cultivation and domestication of Plew'olus oslreatiis var florida, in commercial quantities for local consumption.