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ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the influence of carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratios on the vegetative growth of Pleurotus ostreatus and Marasmiellus inoderma. The fungal inoculum was established on potato dextrose agar, and a basal medium was prepared. Varying C/N ratios were achieved by adjusting glucose and sodium nitrate, as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The basal medium maintained a C/N ratio with 2g/litre each of glucose and variable values of sodium nitrate in grams. Three replicates were maintained for each ratio. Results demonstrated that C/N ratios affected the vegetative growth of the tested fungus. Mycelia extension for Pleurotus ostreutus was highest for C/N ratio 2:1 (7.81±0.29 cm) after 6 days of inoculation and least for C/N ratio 50:1 (3.98±0.02) after 6 days of inoculation. Marasmiellus inoderma completely colonized the plate after four days of inoculation. The mycelial extension was highest for C/N ratio 1:1 (8.00±0.00 cm) after 3 days of inoculation while the extension was least for C/N ratio 30:1 (5.08±0.52) after 4 days of inoculation. The biomass of the mushroom was also affected by the C/N ratio used, Carbon/ Nitrogen ratio 5:1 resulted in the lowest biomass (0.141 ± 0.03) for Marasmiellus inoderma and C/N ratio of 50:1 for Pleurotus ostreutus had 0.142 ± 0.02 mg. The growth was found to be the highest for C/N ratio 1:1 for M.inoderma (2.66 cm/day) and C/N 2.7 for Pleurotus ostreutus (1.3 cm/day) respectively. Growth rate was least for C/N 50:1 for Pleurotus ostreutus (0.63 cm/day) and C/N 30:1 for Marasmiellus inoderma (1.27cm/day). The density and morphological characteristics of the test mushrooms was dependent on the C/N ratios.
