Optimization of sub-merged culture conditions for biomass production in Pleurotus florida (mont.) Singer, a Nigerian edible fungus

Submerged culture conditions such as physical factors, chemical compounds and inoculum sizes were optimized for biomass production in Pleurotus florida, a Nigerian edible mushroom. This fungus produced the greatest biomass at pH of 6.5 and 30°C. Among the monosaccharides, glucose stimulated the best biomass production (186.7 mg/30 cm3) followed in order by fructose mannose, and sorbose (P 0.05). In the series of complex sugars and sugar alcohols, mannitol supported the highest biomass yield with mycelial dry weight of 130.0 mg/30 cm3, followed closely by dextrin with 123.3 mg/30cm3 while the least value was obtained with arabitol. Tryptophan and alanine enhanced moderate vegetative growth with values, which are not statistically different from each other (P 0.05). Leucine was found to be the least amino acid for biomass production in this fungus while yeast extract was the best complex nitrogen sources. The maximum biomass yield (330.0 mg/100 cm3) was obtained when 7.0 cm3 of P. florida inoculum was inoculated into a submerged medium while the least biomass wasobtained with 0.5 cm3 of the inoculu