Evaluation of five different species of Pleurotus for their yield potential and growth parameters under Tripura’s conditions of North East India

A wide range of agroclimatic regions in India enable the cultivation of numerous species of Pleurotus (Oyster) mushrooms, with a large availability of agro-wastes as growing substrate. The research was carried out during November, 2023 to January, 2024 (1st cropping) and January to March, 2024 (2nd cropping) at Mushroom Production Unit, Multi Technology Testing Centre, and Vocational Training Centre, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), Lembucherra, to assess the five different species of Pleurotus, viz. Pleurotus florida, P. sajor-caju, P. djamor, P. ostreatus, and P. citrinopileatus. In vitro study of the test Pleurotus species under five solid media demonstrates that all the test species perform well under malt extract agar medium with 74.38 mm average mycelial growth. All test species of Pleurotus had an overall cropping period ranging from 46 days to 58 days. The shortest cropping period was 46 days in P. florida, and the highest was for Pleurotus citrinopileatus (58 days). Similarly, P. florida reported the fastest spawn run, i.e., 17.5 days, whereas the slowest spawn run was found in P. citrinopileatus (25 days). The early pinhead initiation was documented in P. florida with 20.5 days. The maximum yield was recorded in P. florida, i.e., 1.35 kg per kg of dry substrate, followed by P. sajor-caju, i.e., 0.98 kg per kg, and the lowest in Pleurotus citrinopileatus (0.72 kg/kg of dry substrate). Further examination of different growth parameters revealed that the P. florida has the largest average stalk length (3.2 cm), average stalk diameter (1.0 cm), average cap diameter (7.4 cm), and maximum weight of fruiting body (44.0 g), followed by the P. sajor-caju.