title: Profile of the extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes activities as a tool to select the promising strains of Volvariella volvacea (Bull. ex Fr.) sing.
abstract: Out of 26 strains of Volvariella volvacea used, 18 were of 'typical' type and possessed all the characteristics of a normal V. volvacea mycelium, while the rest 4 'atypical' type strains showed completely distinct mycelial growth characteristics. The remaining 4 strains grew very slowly and exhibited growth characteristics of single spore isolates of V. volvacea. Strains varied in their extracellular lignocellulolytic activities and strains; OE-274, OE-272 and OE-210 with high ligninase enzymes (laccase and polyphenol oxidase) activities, gave highest mushroom yield on pasteurized paddy straw substrate. On the composted paddy straw substrate, additional two strains, OE-213 and OE-215 with lower activities of ligninases also gave higher mushroom yield. Mushrooms were harvested 3 to 4 d early from the composted substrate than on the pasteurized substrate. Activities of endoglucanase, laccase and polyphenol oxidase were found to be more crucial for mushroom yield on pasteurized substrate, while xylanase and β-glucosidase were more important for composted substrate. Strains also varied in their fruiting bodies quality and the substrate used for mushroom cultivation also affected the fruiting body quality. The superior yielding strains varied in shape, size, weight, colour and contents of sodium and potassium in their fruiting bodies; while contents of carbon, calcium and protein did not vary much with the strains.
authors.affiliation: National Research Centre for Mushroom, (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Chambaghat, Solan-, 173 213 (HP) India.
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Ahlawat
authors.forename: Pardeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Sagar
authors.forename: Rejiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajendranath
authors.forename: Krishnakumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rathnam
keywords: Lignocellulolytic enzymes; Morphological characteristics; Strains; Volvariella volvacea; Yield and quality