African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (16), pp. 1464-1469, 17 August 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Optimization of sub-merged culture conditions for biomass production in Pleurotus florida (mont.) Singer, a Nigerian edible fungus

Jonathan Gbolagade¹*, Ayodele Sobowale² and Damilola Adejoye¹

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department of Plant Sciences and Applied Zoology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago iwoye Nigeria.

*Corresponding authors E-mail: jonathangbola@yahoo.com.

Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 July, 2006

Submerged culture conditions such as physical factors, chemical compounds and inoculum sizes were optimized for biomass production in Pleurotus florida, a Nigerian edible mushroom. This fungus produced the greatest biomass at pH of 6.5 and 30°C.  Among the monosaccharides, glucose stimulated the best biomass production (186.7 mg/30 cm³) followed in order by fructose mannose, and sorbose (P ≤ 0.05).  In the series of complex sugars and sugar alcohols, mannitol supported the highest biomass yield with mycelial dry weight of 130.0 mg/30 cm³, followed closely by dextrin with 123.3 mg/30 cm³ while the least value was obtained with arabitol. Tryptophan and alanine enhanced moderate vegetative growth with values, which are not statistically different from each other (P ≤ 0.05).  Leucine was found to be the least amino acid for biomass production in this fungus while yeast extract was the best complex nitrogen sources. The maximum biomass yield (330.0 mg/100 cm³⁾ was obtained when 7.0 cm³ of P. florida inoculum was inoculated into a submerged medium while the least biomass was obtained with 0.5 cm³ of the inoculum. 

Key words: Pleurotus florida, submerged culture, physical factors, biomass.