International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2004, Volume6

Issue 2

104 pages

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v6.i2

Issue price - $128.00

Alice W. Chen
Specialty Mushrooms, 1730 Penfield Rd., No.41, Penfield, NY 14526, USA

Nai-Lai Huang
The Sanming Mycological Institute, Sanming, Fujian, China

Pleurotus tuberregium (Fr.) Singer, the only true sclerotia-producing species in the genus Pleurotus, is a tropical and subtropical species that shows a preference for high temperature in cultivation. Although both mushrooms and sclerotia are produced, sclerotia are the main cause of interest in food and in medicinal preparations. This article describes the distribution and habitats of P. tuberregium for collecting and cultivation. Attention is directed to characteristics of the economic importance of sclerotia and to cultivation for sclerotia production. Synthetic log cultivation is highlighted, although natural log cultivation is feasible. Being a lignin-degrading white-rot fungus, P. tuberregium is most adaptable to a wide range of substrates, including lignin-containing broad-leaf sawdust and straw. However, not all substrates or every strain produce sclerotia. Of significance in sclerotia production are strain selection, substrate selection, substrate formulation, and management of growth parameters, particularly the requirement of high temperature. Observation on how the fungus grows provides a guide to new growers. Discussions on how to shorten sclerotia production time and how to improve yield are especially interesting.

DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushr.v6.i2.90 Download article, 8 pages

Article price - $35.00

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