Studies on Morphological Variability and Interspecific Hybridization of Pleurotus Species

Abstract

Thesis Title: "Studies on morphological variability and interspesific hybridization of Pleurotus species" Oyster mushrooms are the important and least expensive to grow because they are well known for conversion of crop residues to food protein (Banik and Nandi, 2004). The present investigations were carried out on "Studies on Morphological Variability and Interspecific Hybridization of Pleurotus species". The results of present investigations showed that the fruiting bodies of P. florida were formed singly, rarely in clusters, basidiocarp pleurotiod, initially umbrella shaped soon becoming fan shaped. Fruiting bodies of P. flabellatus were produced in clusters rarely single. Basiodiocarps are pleurotiod, imbricate, initially oyster shaped soon expand to become subglobose to flabelliform or spathulate. Among the inorganic additives, maximum radial growth (90.00 mm) of P. florida was found on Potassium di- hydrogen orthophosphate while in case of P. flabellatus maximum radial growth (90.00 mm) was found on magnesium sulphate. Among the different media, maximum radial growth (90.00 mm) was found on black gram extract agar medium in P. florida while in P. flabellatus maximum radial growth (90.00) was found on pigeon pea extract agar medium. Among radial growth of hybrids and their parents, maximum radial growth (80.75 mm) was observed in LEA media of hybrid PfdsxPfb1. In PMEA and PDA maximum radial growth (82.50 mm ·and 76.75 mm) was observed of hybrid Pfd3xPfb2. In spawn rate, highest yield, highest number of sporophores, minimum days for first harvesting, minimum days for cropping period and minimum days for spawn run were observed at the rate of six per cent spawn in both species P. florida and P. f/abellatus. Among the different organic additives, additive at the rate of 6% on dry weight basis added to the substrate, maximum yield (1195.00 g/kg dry substrate) and maximum number of fruiting bodies (70.50) was recorded on black gram flour in P. florida while in P. flabel/atus maximum yield (817.5 g/kg dry substrate) was recorded on pigeon pea flour while maximum numbers (78.50) of fruiting body were recorded on soxbean flour. Among the different inorganic additives added to the substrate, max1mum yield (695.00 g/kg dry substrate) and number of fruiting body (117.50) was observed in magnesium sulphate of P. florida while in P. flabellatus maximum yield (665.00 g/kg dry substrate) and number of sporophores (148.25) was observed in potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate.