Utilization of Kumaizasa (Sasa senanensis) as a cultivation substrate for Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus

Kumaizasa (Sasa senanensis) leaves and their reisdue after steaming followed by hot water extraction were evaluated as a basal component of medium for cultivating Pleurotus cornucopiae var. citrinopileatus. On Kumaizasa leaves-based media, both yield and production index (= fruit body yield/cultivation period) of the fruit-bodies were higher than those on the sawdust-based medium. The highest yield and production index of fruit-bodies were 1.5 times and 1.7 times higher, respectively, than those on the sawdust-based medium. However, under a few conditions both yield of fruit-bodies and production index were almost the same on the leaf residue-based media and the sawdust-based medium. These results suggest that Kumaizasa leaves having high nitrogen contents have high potential for the cultivation of P. cornucopiae.