Jarial, R. S.Sharma, Shakashi2023-03-092023-03-092021-10-23https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810194968The present investigation entitled “Studies on cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii (DC. ex Fr.) Quel on locally available substrates under sub-tropical zone of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken in order to evaluate various cultural requirements, grain substrates for spawn production and production parameters of the test fungus. Out of five solid and liquid media tested, potato dextrose agar and potato dextrose broth were the best solid and liquid media, respectively and temperature 25°C and pH 5.0 were found to be the best for better mycelial growth of the test fungus. Out of seven grain spawn substrates, minimum (17.00 days) time for spawn run, maximum linear growth (48.83 mm) and growth rate (0.24 mm/day) were observed in bajra grain spawn. Out of seven grain substrates evaluated on the standard substrate (wheat straw), minimum (15.33 days) time for spawn run was recorded with oat grain spawn. However, maximum number (25.17) of sporocarps and highest yield (595.62 g/1.5 kg wet substrate) with biological efficiency 99.27 per cent were recorded with wheat grain spawn. Out of five spawn doses tested, minimum (16.33 days) time for spawn run, maximum yield (605.99 g/1.5 kg wet substrate) and biological efficiency (101.00 %) were recorded in wheat straw spawned at the rate of 5 per cent. However, the yield at 5 per cent was statistically at par with 4 per cent (589.40 g/1.5 kg of substrate). Maximum pileus diameter (57.03 mm) and stipe length (31.67 mm) were recorded at 4.00 per cent spawn rate. Out of six production substrates, minimum (16.33 days) time for spawn run, maximum pileus diameter (95.40 mm) and stipe length (48.00 mm) were recorded in maize straw. Maximum number (29.39) of sporocarps, maximum yield (587.58 g/1.5 kg wet substrate) and biological efficiency (97.93 %) were recorded on wheat straw. Out of six supplements amended in wheat straw, evaluated at six different doses for the production of test fungus, rice bran supplemented at the rate of 10 per cent was proved to be the best in terms of yield (715.42 g/1.5 kg wet substrate) with biological efficiency 119.24 per cent. Commercially, P. eryngii was cultivated on three best substrates and supplements with the best grain spawn at their best doses to evaluate the yield and biological efficiency. Minimum time (12.67 days) for spawn run, maximum (52.50) number of sporocarps, highest yield (2402.48 g/5 kg wet substrate) and biological efficiency (120.12 %) were recorded on wheat straw amended with rice bran at the rate of 10 per cent. As far the effect on pH and EC of different substrates were concerned, the pH of different substrates decreased with the progression of crop while, EC increased with the progression of crop.EnglishThesis