Ogidi, C. O., Nunes, M. D., da Silva, M. C. S., Oyetayo, V. O., Akinyele, B. J. and Kasuya, M. C. M. (2017). Growth rate and selenium bioaccumulation in Pleurotus species cultivated on signal grass, Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R. D. Webster. Current Resear
Abstract
Supplementation of edible fungi with essential mineral during cultivation has been an interesting approach to proffer solution to mineral deficiency. Effect of selenium (Se) concentrations (0, 50.0, 100.0 mg mL-1) as sodium selenite on mycelial growth and biomass production of Pleurotus spp. was assessed. The biological efficiency and uptake of Se was determined after the cultivation of Pleurotus mushrooms on Urochloa decumbens (signal grass) with 50.0 g kg-1 of Se. The fungal growth rate and biomass production were reduced after addition of Se and their value ranged from 1.0 mm d-1 to 3.6 mm d-1 and 5.63 g to 30.5 g respectively. Higher biological efficiency (115.23%) was obtained for P. ostreatus (P93) and was significantly different (P<0.05) from other tested Pleurotus spp. Cultivated P. pulmonarius aborbed more Se (135.5 μg g-1) followed by Pleurotus cornucopiae (120.34 μg g-1) but no Se was detected in the control (mushrooms grown on subatrate without Se). Therefore, signal grass can be used as substrate for cultivation of edible fungi (Pleurotus species) enriched with Se. The produced mushrooms can serve as a natural source of mineral supplement for human beings to curb the symptoms of selenium deficiency.