[01] Okwulehie Ikechukwu Cyriacus, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. [02] Bassey Hasadiah Okon, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. [03] John Victor Sunday, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.

In Nigeria and other developing countries of the world, tonnes of agricultural and domestic waste are generated annually which are of no economic value, Mushrooms are cultivated directly or indirectly on agricultural waste products or compost. This is one of the most hygienic processes to recycle agro-wastes. This study investigated the cultivation and yield performance of Hypsizygus ulmarius grown on agricultural waste from Musa sapientum (MS), M. paradisiaca (MP), M. accuminata (MA), MS+MP, MS+MA, MP+MA, MS+MP+MA. The completely randomized design was used. Statistical Analysis of Variance was carried out at 95% level of significant while NDMRT was used to separate the means. The result showed that MS+MA had the shortest fruiting time of 12 days while MP, MP+MA had the longest, which was 14 days. The largest capsize was obtained in MP while the smallest capsize was in MA. The longest stipe length was produced by MS+MP while MS+MA have the shortest stipe. MP+MA substrates gave the highest biological yield while the least was recorded by MS+MA. Biological Efficiency was best at 76.58% produced by MP+MA and lowest at 56.48% by MS+MA. The results obtained indicate that H. ulmarius can be easily grown on the above mentioned substrates. In addition, the substrates used for the growth of H. ulmarius are recommended for use by farmers and other people interested in mushroom cultivation.

Mushroom, Agro-waste, Cultivation, Biological Yield, Biological Efficiency

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