Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Pleurotus tuberregium, commonly known as the "king tuber mushroom," is a valuable edible and medicinal fungus with a wide range of health benefits. However, its cultivation and commercial production face various challenges. This research project aims to promote the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium through innovative cultivation techniques and optimization of growth conditions. The study will focus on enhancing the nutritional value of Pleurotus tuberregium by exploring different substrates and supplements that can improve its composition in terms of protein content, amino acid profile, vitamins, and minerals. Various cultivation methods, including solid-state fermentation and submerged fermentation, will be evaluated to determine the most efficient way to enhance the nutritional composition of the mushroom. In addition to nutritional aspects, the project will also investigate the medicinal properties of Pleurotus tuberregium and how its composition can be optimized to maximize its health benefits. Bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and phenolic compounds will be analyzed to understand their roles in enhancing the medicinal properties of the mushroom. Furthermore, the research will explore the influence of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light exposure, and pH levels on the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium. By optimizing these growth conditions, it is expected that the nutritional and medicinal value of the mushroom can be significantly enhanced. Overall, this project aims to provide valuable insights into promoting the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium through innovative cultivation techniques and optimization of growth conditions. By enhancing the nutritional and medicinal properties of this valuable mushroom, it is hoped that its commercial production can be increased, leading to greater availability of a healthy food source and natural medicine for consumers.

Thesis Overview

1. INTRODUCTION

plenntus tuberregium is a fungi as and an aerobic metabolism and generates energy form oxidation of organic compound. The morphor logical differentiation of plenntus tuberregium is limited. It forms hyphen and develop each type depending on the growth condition. The diameter of the hyphen is usually 5NM. The hyphen is either without septate or has a cellular morphology by septate hyphae. The mass of hyphae represent the mycellium (Stolp, 1988).
plenntus tuberregium posses rigid cell wall. It does not posses chlorophyll and it has a chemoorganotrophic metabolism. It belongs to the group of fungi called basidiomycetes and are the most developed fungi. They produce basidia containing the four basidiospores. The mycellium consist of septate hyphen.
However, plenntus tuberregium supplies the major food types. Protein, carbohydrates, fat and oil as well as minerals (OSO, 1977). It is known to be tastier than meat, fish or seed plant proteins. People who abstain from meat for religious reasons have greater choice of plant protein and superior alternative taste in plenntus tuberregium. The fruiting body as well as sclerotigl mass is more commercially
Demanded and yet minimally exploited.
Several indigenous knowledge and uses of plenntus tuberregium point to the tremendous potential of this biological resource.

1. As a food stablizer / thickening agent
2. As binding agent.
3. As a rich source of foric acid for children and pregnant women.
4. As a rich source of calcium for the bones of aging men and women as well as treatment for boils constipation and dental caries (Oso, 1977).

A visit tot he market place any where in Igbo land, would show this commodity being processed in the soup condiment section. The sclerotia mass is scrapped and ground with curcurbita (Melon seeds). This causes swelling and bulking of the soup. A local snacks called “Ogbalotic” is prepared from Curcurbita Pepo and plenntus tuberregium it is normally tied in a leaf of cola gigantea and boiled which yields a well known health and energy sustaining snacks. It is cherished till today in the villages. Travelers and farm workers need only this and large volume of water to sustain them for days.
This taxanomic position of plenntus tuberregium has been problematic because it produces eathery fruit bodies and posses of dogmatic hyphen system with interracially skeletal hyphae, many prenous authorities placed it in either panus or lentinus (Corner, 1981, Peyler, 1983).
plenntus tuberregium has been eaten since classical times (Corner, 1981, Nwokolo 1987, and Okhuoya, et al, 1998). The question of sustainability of plenntus tuberregium is guareur teed being a biological resources, the technology has been developed for massive production (Okhuoya et al 1998). Other added advantages include the fact that substrate for cultivation of plenntus tuberregium is waste such as rice straw, wood dust. Sunnlight is not required so that caves and shades could maximally produced plenntus tuberregium industrially.