GROWTH, FRUCTIFICATION OF REISHI (Ganoderma lucidum) AND OYSTER (Pleurotus florida) MUSHROOMS, AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHANGES OF MEDIUM TREATED WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF DIESEL

Abstract

Mushrooms are known to be the most effective degraders of agricultural waste and have been valued as medicinal and food resources. They have unique enzymes that could degrade complex materials, yet little is known for their potential to transform hydrocarbon pollutants into non-toxic compounds. The capability of hydrocarbon utilization was assessed by growing two popular mushroom species of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus florida in a medium mixed with diesel. Their growth and fructification were assessed in terms of their mycelial growth and fructification parameters such as number of clusters, fruiting bodies, stipe length, cap diameter, and biological efficiency conversion (BEC). The media used in this study were composed of sawdust, rice bran, lime and sugar with a mixture of water and varying concentrations of diesel from 0% to 40%. Mycelial growth of both mushrooms proved to tolerate effectively the diesel concentrations up to 20% but not tolerated in Ganoderma lucidum at higher concentration. Fructification occurred in all diesel concentrations for Pleurotus florida, and at 0% and 10% for Ganoderma lucidum. The fructification parameters were all affected by added diesel except for stipe length. In terms of media changes, the pH levels showed a decreasing pattern and favored growth and fructification of both mushrooms except for diesel concentrations from 20% to 40% of Ganoderma lucidum due to ammonification. Total carbon and potassium of media revealed a decreasing pattern, while nitrogen and phosphorus contents showed an increasing pattern. These patterns of chemical indicators favored mushrooms‟ capability to grow and tolerate the effect of diesel, considered an environmental pollutant. The effectiveness of both mushrooms in facilitating biodegradation and transformation in varying concentrations of diesel as source of pollutant suggests that they could be employed as bioremediation agents on sites contaminated by hydrocarbon carrying pollutants.