Growing Rate, Growth Area and Yield of Oyster Mushroom

(Plearotus ostreatus) on Banana (Musa paradisiaca) Leaves

and Pseudostem Substrates

Danice D. Cardos

Chapter 1

Introduction to the Study

This chapter includes: (1) Background and Theoretical

Framework of the Study, (2) Statement of the Problem and the

Hypothesis, (3) Significance of the Study, (4) Definition of

Terms, and (5) Delimitation of the Study.

Part One, Background, presents the rationale for

selecting the present problem and the study’s frame of

reference that strengthens the reason for investigation.

Part Two, Theoretical and Conceptual Framework,

discusses the principles and the ideas on which the study is

anchored, and the various variables surrounding the problems

onto which the problem may have relation with or influence.

Part Three, Statement of the Problem, states the

general and specific objectives of the study, which are to

be addressed in the study.

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Part Four, Significance of the Study, discusses the

benefits each end–user may derive from, and how each can

profit from the results.

Part Five, Definition of Terms, defines both

conceptually and operationally the key terms and variables

used in the study.

Part Six, Delimitation of the Study, specifies the

limits as well as boundaries of the research in terms of

variables, participants, instruments, and statistical tools

used in the study.

Background and Theoretical Framework of the Study

Oyster mushroom (Plearotus ostreatus) belongs to Class

Basidiomycetes and Family Agaricaceae grows naturally in the

temperate and tropical forests on dead and decaying wooden

logs or sometimes on dying trunks of deciduous or coniferous

woods. It may also grow on decaying organic matter. The

fruit bodies are distinctly shell or spatula shape with

different shades of white, cream, grey or light brown

depending upon the species.

As cited by Sabido (2010), oyster mushroom is the third

largest cultivated mushrooms in China. It contributes

nearly 85% of the total world production due to the domestic

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demand in the local and national market and because of its

demand orders in a large volume in other parts of the

country.

Oyster mushroom is used for home consumption. It is

rich in Vitamin C and B complex and its protein content

reaches from 1.6 to 2.5 percent depending on the varieties.

It also contains mineral salts which is required by the

human body and also has niacin content which is tem times

higher than any vegetables (Healthline, 2016).

Mushroom cultivation is one of the profitable

agribusiness in the country today. There are a variety of

ways of cultivating mushroom commonly practiced in the rural

and urban areas. The technology of artificial mushroom

cultivation is a recent innovation which stemmed from the

realization that the incorporation of non-conventional crops

in existing agricultural systems can help in improving the

social as well as the economic status of small farmers in

the community (Ferduosi et al., 2020).

Oyster mushroom can grow at moderate temperature

ranging from 20 to 300 Celsius and humidity 55-70% for a

period of 6 to 8 months in a year. It can also be cultivated

in summer months by providing the extra humidity required

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for its growth. In hilly areas above 900m, the best growing

season is during March or April to September(nhb.com, 2021).

The average area of white oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus)

cover ranged from 95.08 - 150.05 cm2(Rambey et al.,2019).

Yield is the amount of fresh mushrooms you can produce

with the space, substrate and other constraints. The larger

the yield, the more cost effective the grow is. Yield should

be determined using the total weight of fresh mushrooms from

all flushes until the substrate block is completely spent.

The yield for the mushrooms can vary wildly between flushes,

which are why using the total yield is a better indicator of

performance. (Shield, 2017).

Oyster mushrooms can be cultivated on straw, wood,

coffee grounds and a range of other cellulose rich

materials. One of the methods for cultivating oyster

mushrooms are by means of using dried banana leaves and the

use of pseudostem substrates. Species of Plearotus is the

cheapest and easiest to grow among edible mushrooms. The

cultivation does not require complicated substrate

preparation technique as in the case of button mushroom.

Oyster mushroom can be grown on non-fermented, almost plant

residues (agri-wastes containing lignin and cellulose).

Substrate preparation does not require controlled

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environmental conditions and can be cultivated throughout

the year under agro-climatic conditions of the area (Sabido,

2010).

The use of dried banana leaves and pseudostem

substrates are the most common technology used by small

farmers in cultivating mushroom. These materials were

collected from banana plants after harvesting and it will be

recycled as planting materials for the growing of oyster

mushroom. Banana leaves and pseudostem substrate will be

used as bedding materials for cultivating mushrooms which

are suitable for round the year cultivation under different

climatic conditions.

This study was conducted to determine if the use of

dried banana leaves and pseudostem substrate increased the

growing rate and growing area of oyster mushroom and at the

same time gave maximum yield after harvest. Furthermore, it

was also determined which of the two bedding materials

produced a maximum growth of mycelium after planting the

spawns and gave the highest number of pinheads and fruit

bodies which were determinants of good yield after harvest.

The independent variables in this study were the dried

banana leaves and pseudostem substrate while the dependent

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variable was oyster mushroom in terms of its growing rate,

growing area and yield parameters.

The conceptual framework in this study is shown below:

Independent Variables Dependent Variable

Oyster mushroom in
Banana Leaves
terms of:
Substrate
-Growing Rate
-Growth Area
-Yield
Banana Pseudostem
Substrate

Figure 1. The schematic diagram showing the dependent and

independent variables in the study.

Statement of the Problem and the Hypotheses

The primary purpose of the study was to determine

the effectiveness of banana (Musa paradisiaca) leaves and

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pseudostem as an alternative substrate in the growth of

oyster mushrooms.

Specifically, this study seeks answers to the following

questions:

1. What is the growth rate, growing area, and yield of

oyster mushrooms in banana leaves, banana pseudostem,

and sawdust?

2. Is there a significant difference in the growth rate

growing area and yield of oyster mushrooms among the

banana leaves, banana pseudostem, and sawdust?

Based on the above-mentioned problems of this study,

the following hypotheses was tested:

1. There is no significant difference in the growing

rate growth area and yield of oyster mushrooms among

the banana leaves, banana pseudostem, and sawdust.

Significance of the Study

This study may benefit the local farmers, local

entrepreneurs, medical field, businessmen, department of

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agriculture and future researchers.

Local farmers. The results of this study can be

beneficial to local farmers in terms of the additional

livelihood and cultivation variety that will give an

alternative and eco-friendly substrate since banana is

readily available in the environment.

Local entrepreneurs. The results of this study can be

beneficial to local entrepreneurs in terms of the increase

in the demand and supply of the mushroom therefore increase

in their profitable.

Medical field. The results of this study can be a

source of health-promoting properties and Contain variety of

powerful compounds like antioxidants, minerals, anti-cancer

properties and vitamins.

Businessmen. This study would be a great innovation in

the economy since businessmen would have a new product to

advertise to the consumers which is much more affordable

than the commercial products that the community is using

today.

Department of Agriculture. This study will provide the

department another breakthrough that will enable them to

broaden the variety of options for mushroom cultivation. The

alternative substrate from Banana is environment friendly

and readily available in the surroundings.

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Future researchers. This study can give other

researchers baseline data in cultivating oyster mushroom. It

can also help those who are aspiring to become scientists

and researchers in the field of agriculture and food

industry

Definition of Terms

For better clarity and understanding, the terms will be

defined conceptually and operationally.

Growing rate – refers to the increase in size, shape or

volume and on how to measure the change from one period to

another (Britanica, 2022).

In this study, “growing rate” referred to the number of

pinheads arising from the mycelium which was recorded daily.

Growth area – refers to geographic area in which there

is noticeable increased in physical size and development

(Merriam-webster, 2022).

In this study, “growth area” referred to the number of

days for completion of growth of mycelium on substrates.

This is from the period of inoculation to incubation.

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Leaves – refers to any usually flattened green

outgrowth from the stem of a vascular plant (Britanica,

2022).

In this study, “banana leaves” referred to the parts of

the banana plant that was utilized as an alternative

substrate for cultivating oyster mushrooms.

Pseudostem – refers to the part of the banana plant

that looks like a trunk. It is formed tightly packed

overlapping leaf sheaths (Morphology of the Banana Plant,

2016).

In this study, “pseudostem” referred to the parts of

the banana that was utilized as an alternative substrate.

Substrate – refers to the surface on which an organism

such as a plant, fungus, or animal lives (Toppr, 2010).

In this study, “substrate” referred to the banana

leaves and pseudostem which was used as an alternative for

making substrates for oyster mushroom cultivation.

Yield – refers to the amount of crop harvested per area

of land (study.com, 2022).

In this study, “yield” referred to the biological

efficiency. Biological efficiency is equal to fresh weight

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of harvested mushroom without removing the base of the

stalks divided by the weight of dry substrate times 100.

Delimitation of the Study

This study was limited to the utilization of banana

(Musa paradisiaca) leaves and pseudostem substrate as an

alternative in cultivating oyster mushrooms. The study was

conducted from January 24 to May 24, 2022 at ACFA Cultured

Mushroom, Brgy. Aglabot, Dumarao, Capiz.

There were three (3) treatments and three replications

for both banana leaves and pseudostem. The standard mixture

of saw dust and rice stalks were used as the positive

control. The exploratory research design was used in the

study.

The Banana Leaves and flower was utilized and dried

thoroughly. The humidity of each substrate was tested. The

experimental treatments were observed and data were

collected based on the parameters in the study. This was

done every week until the study was terminated.

The independent variables in this study were the Banana

leaves and pseudostem substrate while the dependent variable

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was the growing rate, growing area and yield of oyster

mushrooms.

The statistical tools used in the analysis of data were

the Mean, Standard Deviation and One-way Analysis of

Variance (ANOVA). The inferential statistics was set at 5%

level of significance.