Improved techniques to enhance the yield of paddy straw mushroom (<i>Volvariella volvacea</i>) for commercial cultivation

Abstract

Cultivation of Volvariella volvacea in circular compact bed method recorded maximum yield of 972.8 g/bed (biological efficiency of 23.8%). Seeding the beds with 15 and 20 days old spawn with well developed chlamydospores contributed for significantly higher yields. Oil palm bunch waste in combination with rice straw or alone recorded significantly higher yields of 876.3 and 832 g/bed, and cotton waste, in combination with rice straw or alone, recorded 841.6 g and 778 g/bed, respectively. In vitro evaluation of the micronutrient based boosters VVB1 (CaCO₃ 400 ppm + CaCl₂ 50 ppm + KH₂PO₄ 50 ppm + NaCl 50 ppm + Na₂HPO₄ 50 ppm) and VVB2 (CaCl₂ 400 ppm + Na₂HPO₄ 100 ppm) produced profuse mycelium with aerial silky strands, early chlamydospore formation (20.8 and 21.8 days) and increased chlamydospore density (7.8 × 10² and 7.2 × 10² spores/ml). Yields of 960 g/bed with more number of sturdy fruiting bodies were observed in beds sprayed with VVB1. V. volvacea can be successfully cultivated from March to September with 18 to 20% biological efficiency. Storage of V. volvacea at egg stage in air tight plastic box at deep freeze (-20°C) conditions remained intact until 36 h without spoilage.

Keywords: Paddy straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, boosters, bed methods, cultivation techniques