Pleurotus Strains Utilization of Local Agro-Residues as Sustainable Culture Media for Mother Culture Production in Iraqi Pleurotus Strains

Culture Media for Mother Culture Production in Iraqi Pleurotus Strains

Abstract

Background :This study addressed the utilization of local agro-residues as sustainable culture media for mother culture production in Iraqi Pleurotus strains, as an alternative to the commercial medium Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA).

Objective :The study aimed to develop two Iraqi oyster mushroom strains, Pleurotus ostreatus MF065714 and Pleurotus eryngii MF898428.1, on local culture media, and to compare their performance with two foreign strains, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pleurotus eryngii.

Materials and Methods :Mycelium was cut for production and propagation using the tissue segmentation technique. The tested culture media were prepared from a group of agricultural waste and natural materials, including powdered potato peels, oat flour, barley flour, wheat bran, wheat flour, pine tree leaves, rice sphagnum, wheat straw, and maize cobs. Commercial PDA at concentrations of 10–40 g/L was used for comparison. The effects of two environmental factors, temperature and pH, on mycelial growth rate were also examined.

Results :The results showed that, at concentrations of 10% and 20%, the two local isolates performed better than the commercial medium on solid potato peel medium, achieving growth rates of 1.06 cm/day for the P. ostreatus isolate and 0.77 cm/day for the P. eryngii isolate, within the pH range of 5.5–6.5, with no difference between these pH levels. For the P. ostreatus isolate, the optimum temperature for maximum daily growth rate was 30–35°C on PPA medium, at which a growth rate of 1.21 cm/day was recorded. Meanwhile, the P. eryngii isolate grew at its fastest rate of 0.94 cm/day at 20°C. Furthermore, the highest biomass production for the P. ostreatus and P. eryngii isolates was also obtained in PPL medium, with average biomass values of 0.40 g and 0.49 g, respectively.

Conclusion :These findings indicate that local agro-residues can serve as sustainable and effective alternatives to commercial culture media for mother culture production in Iraqi Pleurotus strains.