Project Abstract

Abstract
Pleurotus tuberregium is a highly nutritious and medicinal mushroom species that has gained significant attention due to its potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate methods to promote the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium, focusing on the Enugu area in Nigeria as a case study. The research involved the collection of wild specimens of Pleurotus tuberregium from different locations in Enugu, followed by the isolation and identification of the mushroom species using morphological and molecular techniques. The study examined various factors influencing the growth and composition of Pleurotus tuberregium, including substrate composition, environmental conditions, and cultivation techniques. Different substrates such as agricultural wastes, sawdust, and rice straw were tested to determine their effects on the yield and nutritional content of the mushroom. Additionally, the impact of environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light exposure on the growth of Pleurotus tuberregium was evaluated. Furthermore, the research explored innovative cultivation techniques, including the use of bioreactor systems and mycorrhizal associations, to enhance the production and composition of Pleurotus tuberregium. Molecular analysis was employed to assess the genetic diversity of the collected specimens and to identify potential genetic markers associated with desirable traits in the mushroom species. The findings of the study revealed significant insights into the factors influencing the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium in the Enugu area. The results indicated that substrate composition plays a crucial role in determining the nutritional content of the mushroom, with certain substrates leading to higher protein and mineral levels. Environmental conditions, particularly temperature and humidity, were also found to impact the growth and composition of Pleurotus tuberregium. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of methods to promote the composition of Pleurotus tuberregium, highlighting the importance of substrate selection, environmental optimization, and innovative cultivation techniques. The findings have implications for the cultivation and utilization of Pleurotus tuberregium as a functional food and medicinal resource, particularly in the Enugu area and other regions where the mushroom species is prevalent.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTIONplenntus 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.As a food stablizer / thickening agentAs binding agent.As a rich source of foric acid for children and pregnant women.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 tuberregiumis 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.OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDYThe present study is to ascertain t he nutritional composition of plenntus tuberregium