Growth of basidiomata of the medicinal fungus Schizophyllum commune on maize (Zea mays L.) and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) based substrates  

Abstract

Objective: The productivity of Schizophyllum commune strain MXLD26 was evaluated using regionally available agro-industrial residues, including coffee pulp, sugarcane leaves, corn stover, and wheat straw. Design/methodology/approach: The carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and mineral composition of the substrates were determined. For mycelial growth assessment and cultivation, the substrates were heat-treated by immersion in hot water at 75-80 °C. To monitor mycelial growth, the substrates were placed in glass jars, and the colonized area (cm²) was quantified using Adobe Photoshop, version 25.0. For cultivation, polyethylene bags containing 2 kg of substrate and 5% inoculum of strain MXLD26 were prepared. A completely randomized block design was used to evaluate the individual substrates and sugarcane leaf-corn stover mixtures at ratios of 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25. Results: The greatest mycelial growth after 96 h was observed on wheat straw, coffee pulp, and sugarcane leaves. Regarding basidioma production, the sugarcane leaf-corn stover mixture at a ratio of 25:75 outperformed the remaining treatments and substrate combinations, achieving a biological efficiency (BE) of 38.70%, a production rate (PR) of 1.18%, and a yield (Y) of 8.12%. Limitations on study/implications: Variability in the productivity of individual substrates was observed among experimental replicates. Findings/conclusions: Combining regionally available agro-industrial residues significantly enhances the productivity of S. commune. The mixture containing 25% sugarcane leaves and 75% corn stover was the most efficient substrate for cultivating strain MXLD26.