COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE GROWTH RATE OF EXOTIC AND LOCAL STRAINS OF VOLVARIELLA VOLVACEA FUNGUS ON DIFFERENT SUBSTARETS

Abstract

High cost of animal protein and shortage in availability is deteriorating the quality of health and increasing environmental pollution. The continuous accumulation of organic waste materials is becoming a potential source of environmental pollution. Edible fungi are nature’s recycler, which can convert lignocellulosic wastes into protein rich food. This mushroom can be successfully cultivated on several crop residues, certain agricultural and industrial wastes. Five different wild and exotic strains including Vvpk a local strain and Vv436, Vv428, Vv430, Vv422; exotic strains were evaluated for their productivity on the six different crop residues including cotton waste, paddy straw, banana leaves, sugarcane baggase, corn stovers and pulses straw as substrates under different humidity and temperatures. Cotton waste was proved to be the best substrate by producing highest yield followed by paddy straw and banana leaves. The mushroom obtained from cotton waste was of high quality. We may imply that these agricultural waste materials may successfully be used for the production of high quality protein in arid and semi-arid environment, and the hazardous effects of these materials on human health and environmental quality may also be reduced.