To investigate the yield and precocity of Agaricus blazei using to different casing layers and cultivation environments, five casing layers were prepared with soil (different textures), wood charcoal, and calcitic lime. After colonization, the composts were placed in two growing rooms (controlled environment and plastic greenhouse) and cased. The cycle was 120 days. Yield and precocity data were evaluated in a factorial combination (5 soil types 92 cultivation environments) and 8 replications. The results showed low yields when cultivated in a controlled room (1.55 kg of mushrooms per box) and yield values of different soils ranged between 1.61 and 1.88 kg of mushrooms per box. The precocity values of the different soils and environments ranged between 62 and 51% in the first 50 days of production. The various soil types did not differ statistically for yield values (kg) and the plastic greenhouse provided higher yields. The texture of the different soils and environment directly influenced precocity in A. blazei yield.

RESUMO Estudou-se o efeito da inoculação com o fungo micorrízico arbuscular (FMA),Glomus macrocarpum, da fumigação do substrato e da adição de fósforo solúvel (60, 120, 240 e 480 mg kg -1 de P no solo) sobre as variáveis altura, número de folhas e diâmetro do caule de plantas de mamoeiro cv. Sunrise Solo. O FMA e doses crescentes de fósforo, isoladamente, exerceram efeitos significativos sobre essas variáveis. Não houve efeito significativo do fator fumigação do substrato. O efeito da inoculação foi mais acentuado no tratamento com adição de 60 mg kg -1 de P no solo. A inoculação com G. macrocarpum reduziu a necessidade de fósforo para o mamoeiro, tanto que as variáveis estudadas em plantas inoculadas na ausência de adubação fosfática não diferiram de plantas não inoculadas em substrato adicionado de mais de 240 mg kg -1 de P no solo.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a systematic quality index for application in the cultivation of Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach mushrooms, based on the physical, chemical and biological properties (indicators) of the compost and casing layers (factors). The relative importance (weight) of each of the factors and indicators, their normalized scores, the quality index values and the correlation with the mushroom yield were evaluated. Three casings (soil + peat moss, Dutch commercial casing, and peat moss + spent mushroom substrate) and two composts were used. The resulting quality index is reliable and useful for identifying problems and can also serve as a rapid tool for possible intervention when problems occur. There was little difference between the two composts used, both of them showing high factor index values. Although the peat + spent mushroom casing presented certain limitations because of its high electrical conductivity, the other two casings showed satisfactory factor index values.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the addition of different rates of colonized compost and formaldehyde treatment on production parameters (yield, biological efficiency, mushroom number, mushroom weight, and earliness) in a Dutch commercial casing using Phase III bulk compost as a base substrate for growing Agaricus bisporus. Four rates of spawn-run compost (0 g·m−2, 200 g·m−2, 400 g·m−2, and 600 g·m−2) and formaldehyde treatment (with or without) were used. The experiment was designed as a double factorial in a randomized complete block design. Each block contained six replicates per treatment (a compost bag with 20 kg). The compost added to casing (CACing) technique when applied properly and combined with the use of Phase III compost had significant benefits, including increased mushroom yield, weight, and reduced the growing cycle, especially with the rate of 600 g of spawn-run compost/m2 of casing. On the other hand, the application of formalin reduced yield with or without the CACing technique, which implies the need for an alternative treatment for disinfection. An alternative method may either be thermal or chemical treatments to the casing such as using formaldehyde before mixing the casing with spawn-run compost and before the addition of casing above the colonized compost.

The centesimal composition and the physical and chemical analyses of Lentinus strigosus, an edible mushroom occurring in the Brazilian Amazon and produced in alternative substrates based on wood and agroindustrial residues, were evaluated. For this purpose, the C, N, pH, soluble solids, water activity, protein, lipids, total fiber, ash, carbohydrate, and energy levels were determined. The substrates were formulated from Simarouba amara Aubl. ("marupá"), Ochroma piramidale Cav. Ex. Lam. ("pau-debalsa") and Anacardium giganteum ("cajuí") sawdust and Bactris gasipaes Kunth ("pupunheira") stipe and Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane bagasse). The results indicated that the nutritional composition of L. strigosus varied with the substrate of cultivation; the protein levels found in mushrooms grown in the different substrates (18 -21.5%) varied with the substrate and was considered high; the soluble solids present in the mushrooms could have a relation with complex B hydrosoluble vitamins. L. strigosus could be considered as important food owing to its nutritional characteristics such as high protein content, metabolizable carbohydrates and fibers, and low lipids and calories content.

RESUMO1 Recebido para publicação em 02/10/97 e na forma revisada em 25/11/98. Apoio financeiro da CAPES.

RESUMO O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência dos fungos micorrízicos arbusculares Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerd. e Glomus clarum Nicol. & Schenck, no desenvolvimento de plantas de alecrim (Rosmarinusofficinalis L.) e manjericão (Ocimum basilicumL.) inoculadas, separadamente, em condições controladas. Utilizou-se substrato autoclavado composto por uma parte de areia e uma de terra; o inóculo constou de esporos [500 esporos de G. etunicatum (50mL-1) de solo e 700 esporos de G. clarum(50 mL-1) de solo] e ainda fragmentos de raízes infectadas e micélio. Em cada tipo de planta inoculada foram avaliados: altura das plantas (AP), peso da matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA), peso da matéria fresca das raízes (MFR), esporulação (E) e colonização radicular (CR). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (GE – G.etunicatum; GC – G.clarum e T - Testemunha), 16 repetições para o alecrim e 12 para o manjericão. Cada parcela foi representada por um vaso, contendo uma planta para o alecrim e três para o manjericão. No alecrim , G. clarum mostrou-se mais eficiente do que G. etunicatum em AP (24,15%), MSPA (67,16%) e E (48,16%); por outro lado, G. clarum apresentou CR menor do que G. etunicatum. Em relação às plantas testemunha, G. clarum diferiu destas em todas as variáveis analisadas, porém G. etunicatum não diferiu das plantas testemunha em AP e MSPA. No manjericão, em relação a todas as variáveis analisadas , G. clarum diferiu da testemunha e de G. etunicatum e, este, foi semelhante ao tratamento controle em todas as variáveis, exceto para CR e E. Comparado ao controle, G. clarum proporcionou ao manjericão aumentos de 45,49% em AP e 93,10% em MSPA.