Effect of Different Inorganic additives on radial growth and Dry mycelial Weight of Pleurotus species

Oyster mushrooms cultivation is the easiest and least expensive commercial mushrooms to grow because they are well known for conversion of crop residues to food protein. It can be easily grown in temp. range of 20–26°C with 75–85% relative humidity, therefore with respect to study was undertaken to assess the beneficial effect of different inorganic additives viz: Salicylic acid (0.075%), Potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate (0.075%), Magnesium sulphate (0.075%), Zinc sulphate (0.075%), Potassium chloride (0.075%), Ferrous sulphate (0.075%) and Copper sulphate (0.075%) on the radial growth (cm) and dry mycelial weight (mg/50ml) of Pleurotus species (i.e. P. florida and P. flabellatus). The experiment was conducted session 2014–2015 in Laboratory of Department of Plant Pathology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (250110) in completely randomized design with seven treatment and control (without inorganic additives in medium) with four replications. The observations of radial growth (cm) were taken at each 48 hrs till the colony covered the first full plate. It is evident from the data presented in table that different inorganic additives viz: Salicylic acid (0.075%), Potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate (0.075%), Magnesium sulphate (0.075%), Zinc sulphate (0.075%), Potassium chloride (0.075%), Ferrous sulphate (0.075%) and Copper sulphate (0.075%) significantly increased the radial growth of Pleurotus species (i.e. P. florida and P. flabellatus) except zinc sulphate as compared to control. Maximum radial growth was observed in Potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate (90.00 mm) which was significantly higher than all other treatments. In case of P. flabellatus maximum radial growth found in magnesium sulphate (90.00 mm) which was significantly higher than all other treatments. There was no radial growth in zinc sulphate (0.00) in both species (i.e. P. florida and P. flabellatus). Maximum radial growth rate was recorded in potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate (11.25 mm/day) in P. florida while in case of P. flabellatus maximum radial growth rate was found in magnesium sulphate (11.25 mm/day). Maximum weight of dried mycelium was recorded in magnesium sulphate (5.29 mg/50ml) which was significantly higher than all other treatments in P. flabellatus. In case of P. florida, maximum dried mycelial weight was observed in Potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate (5.16 mg/50ml) which was significantly higher than all other treatments. Maximum growth rate of dried mycelium (0.34 mg/day) was found in potassium di-hydrogen orthophosphate in P. florida while in case of P. flabellatus maximum growth rate of dried mycelium (0.35 mg/day) was found in magnesium sulphate.