CULTIVATION OF PLEUROTUS SPP ON VARIOUS AGRO-RESIDUES

Three species of Pleurotus, P. sajor-caju, P. platypus and P. citrinop ileatus, were cultivated on various agro-residues such as paddy straw, maize stover, sugarcane bagasse, coir pith and a mixture of these was tes. Primordium initiation was observed on 22nd-27th day after spawnin g. Maximum yield was obtained in P. sajor-caju cultivated on paddy str aw. P. platypus yielded its maximum on coir pith and P. citrinopileatu s on sugarcane bagasse. The biological efficiency, nutrient compositio n, energy value and energy recovery of the fruit bodies obtained on th ese substrates were reported.