A.T. DANIA

The fungus Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that belongs to the family Ganodermataceae and mainly grows in the tropics. The effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on the mycelial growth of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum was investigated, and the best carbon and nitrogen sources were determined. Using standard potato dextrose agar (PDA) media as the growth medium, the mycelial growth of Ganoderma lucidum was observed. Subsequently, the sugar from PDA was then replaced with the selected nitrogen and carbon sources and used alternatively for each source inoculated with the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. The daily mycelial growth of each source was recorded. After 5 days of inoculation, the mycelial cells fully colonised the petri dishes. 10 days after inoculation, the fungus mycelial was harvested, dried, and the biomass recorded. Six selected carbon ources, which include glucose, lactose, starch, maltose, cellulose, and sucrose, were employed as nutrient supplements for the fungus Ganoderma lucidum's growth. All the sources promoted its growth, but maltose (66.88±1.44mm) and lactose 88±4.71mm) were most suitable for Ganoderma lucidum growth. Sucrose (55.0±1.87mm), and cellulose (37.88±1.44mm), was east suitable for Ganoderma lucidum's growth due to their growth rates. The most suitable carbon source for the biomass production of Ganoderma lucidum was sucrose (0.29±0.03g) and lactose (0.26±0.04g), while the least suitable was cellulose 5±0.02g) and glucose (0.15 ±0.06g). Six selected nitrogen sources were also employed as supplements in this study. They include ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, yeast, and urea. All nitrogen sources promoted the fungus' growth with the exception of urea, which showed no growth. Among the selected nitrogen sources used, yeast (69.25 ± 2.33mm) and ammonium sulphate (61.25±3.01mm) were most suitable for Ganoderma lucidum growth. The least suitable were ammonium nitrate (36.35± 0.96mm), sodium nitrate (47.13±0.48mm), and urea, which promoted no growth. The most suitable nitrogen sources for the biomass production of Ganoderma lucidum were yeast (0.52± 0.03g) and sodium nitrate (0.83±0.16g)
and the least suitable was ammonium sulphate (0.19 ±0.09g) and ammonium nitrate (0.16±0.02g). The morphological characteristics and density pattern of the mycelial of Ganoderma lucidum were also observed in the course of the study. Nutritional factors have been noted to be responsible for the growth and development of fungi. From this study, it is concluded that the most suitable carbon source for the growth of Ganoderma lucidum is maltose and lactose, while the most suitable carbon source for the biomass production of Ganoderma lucidum is sucrose and lactose.

The fungus Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom that belongs to the family Ganodermataceae and mainly grows in the tropics. The effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on the mycelial growth of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum was investigated, and the best carbon and nitrogen sources were determined. Using standard potato dextrose agar (PDA) media as the growth medium, the mycelial growth of Ganoderma lucidum was observed. Subsequently, the sugar from PDA was then replaced with the selected nitrogen and carbon sources and used alternatively for each source inoculated with the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. The daily mycelial growth of each source was recorded. After 5 days of inoculation, the mycelial cells fully colonised the petri ishes. 10 days after inoculation, the fungus mycelial was harvested, dried, and the biomass recorded. Six selected carbon sources, which include glucose, lactose, starch, maltose, cellulose, and sucrose, were employed as nutrient supplements for the fungus anoderma lucidum's growth. All the sources promoted its growth, but maltose (66.88±1.44mm) and lactose (64.88±4.71mm) were most suitable for Ganoderma lucidum growth. Sucrose (55.0±1.87mm), and cellulose (37.88±1.44mm), was least suitable for anoderma lucidum's growth due to their growth rates. The most suitable carbon source for the biomass production of anoderma lucidum was sucrose (0.29±0.03g) and lactose (0.26±0.04g), while the least suitable was cellulose (0.15±0.02g) and glucose (0.15 ±0.06g). Six selected nitrogen sources were also employed as supplements in this study. They include ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, yeast, and urea. All nitrogen sources promoted the fungus' growth with the exception of urea, which showed no growth. Among the selected nitrogen sources used, yeast (69.25 ± 2.33mm) and ammonium sulphate (61.25±3.01mm) were most suitable for Ganoderma lucidum growth. The least suitable were ammonium nitrate (36.35± 0.96mm), sodium nitrate (47.13±0.48mm), and urea, which promoted no growth. The most suitable nitrogen sources for the biomass production of Ganoderma lucidum were yeast (0.52± 0.03g) and sodium nitrate (0.83±0.16g) and the least suitable was ammonium sulphate (0.19 ±0.09g) and ammonium nitrate (0.16±0.02g). The morphological characteristics and density pattern of the mycelial of Ganoderma lucidum were also observed in the course of the study. Nutritional factors have been noted to be responsible for the growth and development of fungi. From this study, it is concluded that the most suitable carbon source for the growth of Ganoderma lucidum is maltose and lactose, while the most suitable carbon source for the biomass production of Ganoderma lucidum is sucrose and lactose

This study evaluated the effect of different lignocellulosic substrates on the mycelial growth performance of Pleurotus tuberregium and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two indigenous edible mushrooms of nutritional and economic significance in Nigeria. Five agro-residues including oil palm fiber corn straw, corn husk, plantain leaves, and sawdust were prepared as substrates following pasteurization procedures. Pure cultures of Pleurotus tuberregium and Psathyrella atroumbonata were inoculated into the substrates and incubated at 35°C under controlled humidity (75-80%). Mycelial growth parameters, including radial extension, growth rate, and morphological density, were measured at three-day intervals. The results revealed that substrate composition significantly influenced mycelial colonization and growth rate. For Pleurotus tuberregium, plantain leaves supported the highest mycelial extension after three days, followed by oil palm fiber, while corn husk exhibited the least growth. In contrast, Psathyrella atroumbonata recorded its best performance on oil palm fiber and sawdust, with the least growth again on corn husk. Mycelial density and morphology varied across substrates, with dense and woolly growth observed on oil palm fiber and plantain leaves, indicating vigorous metabolic activity, while sparse or thin mycelium was associated with corn husk, reflecting nutrient limitation and structural rigidity. The comparative growth rate analysis showed that Psathyrella atroumbonata (27.06 mm day') grew faster than Pleurotus tuberregium (22.39 mm day'), suggesting species-specific enzymatic adaptation and differential substrate utilization. The study establishes that substrate selection is a critical determinant of mycelial performance in mushroom cultivation. Plantain leaves and oil palm fiber emerged as the most efficient substrates for Pleurotus tuberregium and Psathyrella atroumbonata, respectively, due to their favorable carbon-nitrogen balance, moisture retention, and porosity. The findings highlights the potential of agricultural residues as contributing to both waste reduction and enhanced food.

Mushrooms are good degraders of wastes and plant litters. Marasmiellus inoderma is an edible and medicinal mushroom that usually grows on leaf litters and wood wastes. To test for the suitability of plant wastes on the vegetative growth of the mushroom, extracts from selected wastes were used to prepare media for its growth in the laboratory. Six plant wastes were
selected for this study. They include Oil palm fruit fiber (OPFF), Banana leaves, Terminalia catappa leaves (TC), paper wastes , cotton wastes and melon husk wastes. The extracts of each these wastes were prepared by weighing 100g of the waste into 1L of water and boiling for 15 minutes. The extracts were amended with Dextrose sugar and PDA and then inoculated a 10mm
agar plug of a 7day old culture. The results obtained indicated that the extract from cotton waste (75.75 ± 12.71 mm) and cotton amended with PDA gave the highest mycelia extension (74.33 ± 1.61 mm) followed by Oil palm fruit fiber extract amended with PDA (73.5 ± 3.04 mm) and the least extension was observed in the extract of waste paper amended with PDA (39.33 ± 29.17 mm). The extract of cotton amended with PDA gave the highest biomass yield after 12 days of inoculation. The pure extract of Banana leaves compared well with PDA in the mycelia extension of the mushroom while Melon amended with PDA compared favorably with PDA in biomass yield of the mycelium. The density and morphology of the mushroom on the extracts
differed considerably. While the mycelia growth and form was dense in pure banana and cotton extracts, it was slightly dense in the pure extracts of OPFF and Terminalia catappa leaf and very dense in melon husk and cotton waste extracts when both were amended with PDA. This study shows that the fungus can be cultivated on these wastes and can therefore be used to reduce the waste and convert these wastes into food. These substrates can also be useful in generating the mycelia of the fungus Marasmiellus inoderma to produce other value-added products

his study examined the effect of different levels of Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder and wheat bran supplementation on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus tuberregium. Pleurotus tuberregium, commonly known as the king tuber oyster mushroom, is a tropical species valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance. Unlike plants, mushrooms lack chlorophyll and depend on decomposing organic matter for nourishment, making them suitable for cultivation on agricultural wastes such as sawdust, rice husk, and maize
cobs. The experiment was done using sawdust as substrate. The substrate was prepared and supplemented with wheat bran and Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder at 0,2,4,6,8 and 10% levels respectively. Supplemented substrate were inoculated with spawn of Pleurotus
tuberregium and then incubated incubated for growth and fruiting. The results showed that supplementation with wheat bran and Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder improved the growth and yield of Pleurotus tuberregium compared to the 0% control. Substrates supplemented with Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder reached 50% mycelial colonization as early as 12 days and full colonization by about 18 to 20 days, while those with wheat bran reached 50% between 12 and 14 days. Fruiting bodies appeared between 22 and 30 days in both supplements, but only sclerotia formed in the 0% control. The highest yield was recorded at 10% Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder with 790 g fresh weight, 50.43 g dry weight

This study examined the effect of different levels of Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder and wheat bran supplementation on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus tuberregium. Pleurotus tuberregium, commonly known as the king tuber oyster mushroom, is a tropical species valued for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic importance. Unlike plants, mushrooms lack chlorophyll and depend on decomposing organic matter for nourishment, making them suitable for cultivation on agricultural wastes such as sawdust, rice husk, and maize
cobs. The experiment was done using sawdust as substrate. The substrate was prepared and supplemented with wheat bran and Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder at 0,2,4,6,8 and 10% levels respectively. Supplemented substrate were inoculated with spawn of Pleurotus tuberregium and then incubated incubated for growth and fruiting. The results showed that supplementation with wheat bran and Green way odendron suaveolens seed powder improved the growth and yield of Pleurotus tuberregium compared to the 0% control. Substrates supplemented with Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder reached 50% mycelial colonization as early as
12 days and full colonization by about 18 to 20 days, while those with wheat bran reached 50% between 12 and 14 days. Fruiting bodies appeared between 22 and 30 days in both supplements, but only sclerotia formed in the 0% control. The highest yield was recorded at 10% Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder with 790 g fresh weight, 50.43 g dry weight, and