Improvement of yield of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii by substrate supplementation and use of a casing overlay.
Improved yield and biological efficiency (BE) of Pleurotus eryngii var. eryngii were achieved by supplementation of substrate with a commercial delayed-release nutrient and use of a casing overlay. Yield increases of 14% were achieved from cased substrates that were supplemented at time of casing with delayed-release nutrient (Remo's). Use of a casing layer enhanced yield by 141% over non-cased substrates. When casing and substrate supplementation were combined, yield increased 179% over non-cased/non-supplemented substrates. Mushrooms harvested from cased substrates were darker in color and solids contents were lower compared to non-cased substrates. An additional break of mushrooms was harvested from non-cased "spent" substrate by fragmenting and re-supplementing the substrate prior to the application of a casing overlay. Three production methods were compared for their effect on mushroom yield: "standard", "casing" and "casing after first break". Casing of the substrate before first break ("casing" production method) resulted in the highest yield and biological efficiency.
Rodriguez Estrada
Alma E
AE
Department of Plant Pathology, 210 Buckhout Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-4507, United States.
Jimenez-Gasco
Maria del Mar
Mdel M
Royse
Daniel J
DJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000254:growth & development*