Domestication of a wild edible and nutritious mushroom Lentinus tigrinus from the Pakistan

Resumo

Lentinus tigrinus is a significant edible and medicinal mushroom. It is enriched with protein, fibers, carbohydrates and minerals and also possesses remarkable therapeutic properties. During the exploration of fungal flora of Punjab, Pakistan, we came across a Lentinus species. It was identified as Lentinus tigrinus, a part of common native flora of many regions of the world like Pakistan. Its culture ability and cultivation potential were assessed by using different media and substrates. Maximum mycelial growth was observed on the Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) at 35ᵒC, followed by the Compost Extract Agar (CEA) medium, Malt Extract Agar (MEA), Glucose Peptone Agar (GPA), and Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Spawning material was prepared on rice, sorghum and barley grains by the cultured mycelium on PDA medium. Sorghum grains was found as the appropriate medium for spawn production of this fungus. Cultivation potential and biological efficiency was assessed on the different substrates. A mixed substrate of sawdust and rice straw at 30ᵒC showed the maximum yield. Tea-waste medium was used as the casing material and proved very effective. These results indicated that L. tigrinus exhibit the growth potential and its domestication can compete with nutritional and medicinal peculiarities of one of the most cultivated species Lentinus edodes.