FACULTY OF SUSTAINABLE

AGRICULTURE

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

ARTICLE REVIEW
RH31302 MUSHROOM TECHNOLOGY

PREPARED FOR:
DR. MOHD RAKIB BIN MOHD RASHID

PREPARED BY:
NOOR AMYRAH ALINA BT. MOHD AMERUL ‘ASRI
BR20110034

DATE OF SUBMISSION:
16TH NOVEMBER 2022
A Review of Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 3 (3): 158-160, 2004 by Z.A. Shah, M. Ashraf and M.
Ishtiaq Ch. for Comparative Study on Cultivation and Yield Performance of Oyster Mushroom
(Pleurotus ostreatus) on Different Substrates (Wheat Straw, Leaves, Sawdust).

Literature Review
Z.A. Shah, M. Ashraf and M. Ishtiaq Ch. author of this article, a student from University
College of Agriculture Rawalakot (UAJ&K), Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Explaining the yield
performance of oyster mushroom using different types of substrates. During the months of
August and September of 2002, the research was carried out in the Horticulture laboratory,
Department of Horticulture, University College of Agriculture, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir.
In this paper, I am summarize and review the article. I also would suggest on section of
few local issues related on selected aspects, identify some relevant changes that have occurred
since the article was published. Other than that, I would suggest where additional research
findings would assist in understanding with solutions to the issues discussed.

Article Summary
Z.A. Shah, M. Ashraf and M. Ishtiaq Ch (2004) described that the experiment was
conducted to explore the growing of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on various
substrates. They also documented that the mushroom farming is a significant agribusiness. The
incorporation of non-traditional crops into the existing agricultural system can enhance the
farmer's economic situation. They also explained that most of the mushrooms are high in protein,
vitamins, and minerals, as well as being anti-cancer, anti-cholesterol, and anti-tumorous. Z.A.
Shah, M. Ashraf and M. Ishtiaq Ch (2004) have found the substrate with maximum yielded was
the sawdust along with biological efficiency, and number of fruiting bodies, making it the finest
substrate for oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) culture while the least number goes to the
leaves substrate. The explanation continued with the benefits of mushroom.
Mushroom protein is intermediate between that of animals and vegetables. (Kurtzman,
1976). Mushrooms are also high in Niacin, Pantothenic acid, and Biotin (Subramanian, 1986). It
is possible to grow it on agricultural and industrial waste. More than half of the overall yield
from the land is wasted as straws, leaves, stalks, roots, and so on (Zadrazil, 1978). These trash
can be converted into food, and the environment may be less polluted as a result (Hayes, 1978).
Poor farmers can benefit from mushroom farming because it is a labor-intensive crop with a
short growing season and saves land. Global mushroom production is currently over 1.5 million
tons. Reasons to explain the benefits of mushroom was to introduce to readers about the
biological behavior, surrounding and types of mushroom that can be eaten with various types of
protein in it. From the experiment it has shown the results between substrates used for the
cultivation of oyster mushroom which sawdust (50%) and wheat straw (50%), sawdust (75%)
and leaves (25%), sawdust (100%), wheat straw (100%), wheat straw (50%) and leaves (50%)
and lastly leaves (100%).
 It can be concluded that, the highest of the average yield was sawdust while the least goes
to the leaves as it shown in Table 2: Biological efficiency, weight, and average yield of different
substrate. The data was statistically examined on the following aspects. Time was measured in
days for the completion of mycelium development on substrates, the appearance of pinheads, and
the maturation of fruiting bodies in various treatments. The yield number of fruiting bodies and
biological efficiency of substrates were also recorded. The total biological efficiency was
calculated as a function of the dry weight of each substrate.
Reflections
The purpose of this journal seems to only focus on the part of the maximum yield for the
oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivation without explaining the factors that might
occur during the experiment conducted. Besides that, they only show the results obtained to
recommend which substrate was the best for the cultivation of oyster mushroom that archived
with findings of Hami (1990). The discussion explained the result for the spawn running, pin
heads formation, fruiting bodies formation, yield of oyster mushroom, numbers of fruiting bodies
and biological efficiency. This means that mushrooms grown in sawdust substrates absorbed
available nutrients more efficiently than those growing in leaves. As a result, it implies that a
larger percentage of biological efficiency was reached in the sawdust substrate.
Leaves might be the least to obtain the average of the yield due to its less nutrient than
others substrate. The leaves also might be less in protein content which was important in
contributed the cultivation of the oyster mushroom. If the number of protein content is minimum,
the production of the cultivation is also minimum. This is important as the fungal mycelium will
break down this nutritional substance to produce fruiting bodies. Other than that, the leaves
might not have enough moisture. A wet atmosphere is necessary for the growth and production
of mushrooms by mycelium, the underground vegetative growth of a fungus. Since mushrooms
are also mostly water, nothing will happen if the mycelium dries up or the humidity level is too
low. During the experiment, several errors might be occurred during the substrate preparation. It
is necessary to correctly prepare the mushroom substrate by adding water, possibly added
nutrition, and additional processing by sterilization or pasteurization. When it is ready, it can be
"inoculate," which involves uniformly distributing broken-up pieces of grain spawn, also known
as grain covered in mycelium, onto the substrate. Contamination might also occur during the
experiment which can cause to failure when growing mushroom. Incorrect sterilization is the
main cause of contamination. We needed to treat all equipment, work surfaces, containers and
gloves with alcohol before any working progress. Therefore, I suggest to fully understand the
types of substrates that are used to archive the maximum yield for the mushroom cultivation.
Also to understand the procedure correctly.
Conclusion
This study came to the conclusion that mushrooms are employed both as nutritional and
therapeutic resources. However, relatively little is known about the current state of mushroom
cultivation, including possible benefits, problems, and prospects. As a result, this study has so far
reviewed the relevant mushroom information.
 References
Shah, Z. A., Ashraf, M., & Ishtiaq, M. (2004). Comparative study on cultivation and yield
performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on different substrates (wheat straw,
leaves, saw dust). Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 3(3), 158-160.
Islam, M. Z., Rahman, M. H., & Hafiz, F. (2009). Cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus
flabellatus) on different substrates. International Journal of Sustainable Crop Production, 4(1),
45-48.
Royse, D. J., Baars, J., & Tan, Q. (2017). Current overview of mushroom production in the
world. Edible and medicinal mushrooms: technology and applications, 5-13.
Sánchez, C. (2004). Modern aspects of mushroom culture technology. Applied microbiology and
biotechnology, 64(6), 756-762.
Patel, Yashvant, Ram Naraian, and V. K. Singh. "Medicinal properties of Pleurotus species
(oyster mushroom): a review." World Journal of Fungal and Plant Biology 3.1 (2012): 1-12.
Zhang, Ruihong, Xiujin Li, and J. G. Fadel. "Oyster mushroom cultivation with rice and wheat
straw." Bioresource technology 82.3 (2002): 277-284.