EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT CULTURE MEDIA, TEMPERATURE AND pH LEVELS ON THE GROWTH OF WILD AND EXOTIC PLEUROTUS SPECIES

A series of experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of various growth conditions on growth and development of Pleurotus species. In first experiment six different Pleurotus strains Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm , Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer , Pleurotus eryngii (DC.) Quel , Pleurotus columbinus (DC.) Quel (exotic) and Pleurotus sapidus (Schulzer) Sacc. (FW-133) were cultured on different agar media viz. PDA (Potato dextrose agar), MEA (Malt extract agar) and WEA (Wheat extract agar). Among these media Potato dextrose agar medium (PDA) was found to be the best medium than malt extract agar (MEA) and wheat extract agar (WEA) for the growth of mycelium of all Pleurotus species. In second experiment the six Pleurotus species were cultured aseptically on PDA at different temperature ranges and found mostly Pleurotus species grows best at 25°C, while the P. sapidus (FW-133) shows mycelial growth at 35°C. In third experiment these six Pleurotus strains were aseptically inoculated on PDA at 25 °C. It was noted that the species exhibited maximum mycelial growth at pH 6, whereas the minimum growth was recorded at pH 4.