Influence of wheat cultivars on straw quality and Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation

The main raw material for Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) cultivation is wheat straw. Estimation of straw biodegradability from 15 different spring wheat cultivars under irrigation in South Africa was determined using linear discriminant analysis to discriminate or group the 15 cultivars by combining chemical analysis and in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis. Significant differences (P < 0.01) were found between ash, nitrogen, reducing sugars, anthrone reactive-carbohydrates, water-soluble dry matter, and oyster mushroom yields. The significance of these measurements was investigated and discussed.