Abstract

Mushrooms consumption has generated interest in man from early civilization. Mushrooms have a unique texture and flavour that are not found in other food crops. In addition, mushrooms cultivating is a promising new industry, with many new businesses developing every year. Cultivation of saprophytic edible mushrooms may be the currently economical biotechnology for lingo-cellulose organic waste recycling that combines the production of protein rich food with the reduction of environmental pollution. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus on the Grevillea leaves of solid waste disposal in order to reduce environmental pollution by bioconversion of this waste into health food. Grevillea leaves were good substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation. The fruit bodies produced on this substrate were large in size and many in number. Therefore, cultivation of oyster mushrooms on this substrate can contribute to solving the food supply scarcity and quality problem beside removing solid waste pollutant from the environment.

Key words: Fruit body, Grevillea robusta, mushroom cultivation, Pleurotus ostreatus, spawn.