Phenology of mycoflora and some physical and organic composition of agricultural waste used in the cultivation of the mushroom Volvariella volvacea

Abstract

The physical, organic and fungal phenology of five unamended agricultural lignocellulose waste used to cultivate a local isolate of Volvariella volvacea (Bull ex Fr) Sing. were studied. The major components studied were cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, crude fibre, ash, organic matter and protein. There were considerably variations in the organic and physical compositions of these wastes namely: banana leaves, cocoa shells, maize stover, oil palm pericarp and rice straw. Maize stover and rice straw recorded the highest value for cellulose (39.04-38.42%) and hemicelluloses (28.57-25.27%) and the lowest for lignin (6.73-6.15%). The pH of the composts, varied between pH 5.37-7.34 which was within the optimum pH for best growth of V. volvacea. Moisture content ranged from 69.0-79.1 % with the attendant Equilibrum Relative Humidity, ERH, between 75-85% conducive for fungal growth. Phenology of the resident fungi of the five wastes also varied considerably. However, after 30 days of inoculation of the substrates, fungal species such as Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, Coprinus cinereus, Mycogyne sp. and Trichoderma viride persisted in the composts and presumably collectively contributed to the non-fruiting of V volvacea on cocoa shells, maize stover, rice straw and oil palm pericarp wastes. The Biological Efficiency (BE), of V volvacea on unamended dry banana leaves waste which permitted fructification was 43.0%. The practical implications of these findings are discussed and further work suggested