STUDIES ON VOLVARIELLA-ESCULENTA (MASS) SINGER - CULTIVATION ON AGRICULTURAL WASTES AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF STORED MUSHROOMS

Volvariella esculenta (Mass) Singer, a Nigerian edible mushroom, is ab le to grow at a temperature range of 20-40 degrees C (optimum=35 degre es C) and pH range of 3-10 (optimum=6.0). It is able to utilize a wide range of agricultural wastes for vegetative growth and fructification . Of these the rice straw induced the widest mycelial extension while rice bran produced the highest mycelial density. Similarly, the unferm ented cotton waste compost produced the highest fruitbody yield. Post- harvest storage at 12 degrees C for 1 day preserved the texture and nu trient composition of fresh mushrooms whereas extension of storage tim e did not prevent deterioration. These results are discussed in relati on to cultivating V. esculenta as a commercial mushroom in Nigeria.