Effect of Different Substrates on the Nutritional Composition of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. (Oyster Mushroom)

Pleurotus ostreatus is a widely cultivated mushroom across the globe, known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties with a low rate production technology and increased biological efficiency. This study was aimed at determining the nutritional composition of P. ostreatus grown on four dissimilar substrates. P. ostreatus was cultivated on sawdust, cornhusk, banana leaves and a combination substrate consisting all three via spawn inoculation. The first flushes from each substrate were harvested and air-dried to constant weight. The nutritional composition like moisture content, ash content, protein, carbohydrate and vitamins were evaluated according to standard procedures. Three out of the four substrates produced fruiting bodies. Cornhusk showed the highest value (49.03%) for carbohydrate content surpassing the other substrates while the mushroom sample from sawdust treatment showed the highest level of protein with a value of 32.10%. The vitamin contents evaluated for the three substrates presented a significant value in vitamin A and E, with vitamin C being the least vitamin composition ranging from 37.90 mg kg-1 in combination substrates to 38.80 mgkg-1 in sawdust sample. Above all, the combination substrate showed the least nutritional content amongst all the other values obtained. This study has shown that P. ostreatus grown on cornhusk had the highest carbohydrate while sawdust had the highest protein content hence, the use of these substrates is recommended for optimal nutritional benefits.