The effect of culture media on some morphophysiological characteristics and nutritional value of (Agaricus subrufescens)

Beta-glucan is one of the components of the mushroom cell wall and the most therapeutically important polysaccharide in mushrooms. The aim of this research is to produce a specific vermicompost to improve the nutritional value and evaluate the beta-glucan content in blazai mushroom (A.subrufescens).

An experiment was conducted in form of a completely randomized design and in three replications at the mushroom research center of Islamic Azad University of Isfahan (Khorasgan) in 1399-1400. It investigated 18 combined substrates as treatments, including casing soil as control, compost and vermicompost, Echinacea vermicompost alone and in combination with casing soil with certain values of the hormone indol acetic acid. Based on the results, richer substrates including compost and vermicompost alone and in combination with casing soil led to the optimal growth of blazai mushrooms.

The results of the analysis of variance showed that the highest amount of beta-glucan with the value of 72.86 mg/kg and the highest ash percentage was observed, namely the substrates with the origin of the Echinacea medicinal plant.

In general, for biomass production, it is better to use richer substrates, yet if the purpose of production of the essential material in the mushrooms, it is better to use substrates that are combined with Echinacea. The present research is the combination of casing soil 50 percent + compost or vermicompost 50 percent in the absorption of nutrients and the improvement of quantitative traits played a slightly better role.