Optimization of rice bran and food waste compost contents in mushroom culture medium to maximize mycelial growth rate and fruit body yield of Pleurotus ostreatus

The objective of this study was to find optimum rice bran (RB) and food waste compost (FWC) contents in culture medium for mycelial growth rate and fruit body yield of oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. RB (0–20%) and FWC (20–40%) contents significantly affected the fruit body yield of P. ostreatus. Within the design boundaries, the optimum conditions for maximum mycelial growth rate (14.8 cm 20 d−1) were 9.3% RB and 24% FWC. The optimum conditions for maximum fruit body yield (91 g bottle−1) were 12% RB and 25% FWC, which was 153% higher than value (36 ± 11 g bottle−1) at the control condition of 80% w/w sawdust and 20% w/w RB. Our results proved a good potential of FWC to serve as an alternative growth medium for cultivating oyster mushroom, P. ostreatus. This may improve the production efficiency of edible mushrooms to help minimize production costs and maximize farm profits.

► We evaluated applicability of food waste compost as substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus.
► Rice bran and food waste compost content affected the fruit body yield of P. ostreatus.
► The optimum conditions for the yield were 12% rice bran and 25% food waste compost.
► Food waste compost has potential for fruit body medium of P. ostreatus.