Advances in Oyster Mushroom Spawn Production: Substrate Innovations and Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology
A. G. Meena *
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. Sharvesh Prabhu
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. Kavinesan
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
S. Pravin Kumar
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
N. Karthikeyan
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
S. Vijaya Raghavan
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, The Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed to be University, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) cultivation is a sustainable approach for converting agricultural wastes into nutritious food. This review highlights spawn production using various grain and non-grain substrates, emphasizing the role of nutrient composition and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in mycelial growth. Grain substrates, particularly pearl millet and maize, showed superior performance due to balanced nutrients. Factors affecting spawn quality, including moisture, sterilization, and inoculum quality, are discussed. The application of nanotechnology, especially nanoparticles such as ZnO and Ag, demonstrates significant potential in enhancing mycelial growth, yield, biofortification, and antimicrobial activity. Integrating these approaches can improve productivity and sustainability in oyster mushroom cultivation systems.
Keywords: Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus spp., spawn production, substrate optimization, nanotechnology