ABSTRACT
Pleurotus species are well-known for their nutritional value and serve as a rich source of vitamins, protein, and minerals. They are utilized for various purposes, including food and medicine. Marasmiellus inordema is one of the few saprotrophic fungi native to Africa that is cultivated and traded by local communities. Marasmiellus inordema is recognized by its clustered, white, hygrophanous basidiocarps with ridged-striate pileus, relatively distant lamellae, and a distinct pinkish, subtomentose base of the stipe. The effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on the mycelia growth of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma was investigated, and the carbon and nitrogen sources were determined. Using potato Dextrose agar (PDA) media as growth medium, the mycelial growth was of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma was observed. Subsequently, the sugar from PDA was then replaced with the selected nitrogen and carbon sources and used alternatively for each source inoculated with Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma. The daily mycelial growth of each source was recorded. After 7 days for Pleurotus ostreatus and 4 for Marasmiellus inoderma of inoculation, the mycelial cells fully colonised the petri dishes. 10 days after inoculation, the fungus mycelialwas harvested, dried, and weighed, and the biomass recorded. Five selected carbon sources, which include glucose, sucrose, maltose, lactose and starch, were employed as nutrient supplements for Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma growth. All the sources promotedbits growth, maltose was the most suitable for the growth but lactose were least suitable for the growth. All nitrogen sources promoted the growth wit the exception of urea, which showed no growth. Among the selected nitrogen sources used, yeast was the most suitable for the growth of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma . The most suitable carbon sources for the biomass production of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma was maltose and the least was lactose. While for nitrogen sources, the yeast is the most suitable for the biomass production. The morphological characteristics and density of the mycelial of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma were observed in the course of study. The morphological feature of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma was either wooly, fluffy, enraised, appressed in the various nutrient sources, while the density was either dense or very dense.
