STUDIES ON PLEUROTUS-TUBER-REGIUM (FRIES) SINGER - CULTIVATION, PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND MINERAL CONTENTS OF SCLEROTIA

Studies were conducted on the growth and cultivation of Pleurotus tuber-regium on local cellulosic wastes. Andropogon tectorum straw supported the greatest mycelial growth, and cotton and oil palm pericarp wastes supported the least. For cultivation of edible sclerotia, cotton waste and rice straw gave the highest yield and banana leaves gave the lowest. However, with regard to protein, lipid, ethanol-soluble sugar, crude fibre, calcium and magnesium contents, the sclerotia grown on banana leaves were the richest. In contrast, the sclerotia cultivated on com cob were the poorest in sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus contents. In all the sclerotia cultivated on banana leaves, com cob, cotton waste and rice straw, protein and potassium were the most abundant nutrients. These results are discussed in relation to the prospect of cultivating P. tuber-regium in Nigeria.