ABSTRACT
Mushrooms such as Pleurotus, Vovariella and Auricularia species are
cultivated for food and medicinal purposes in the world. However, cultivation of
Auricularia in Nigeria is limited due to inadequate information on its characteristics,
nutritional contents and cultivation requirements. Hence, this study was designed to
characterise Auricularia species in Southwestern Nigeria and determine suitable
substrates for their cultivation.
Fifty-four samples of Auricularia species were randomly collected based on
availability from secondary forests in Osun (11), Oyo (10), Ondo (9), Ekiti (8), Ogun
(8) and Lagos States (8). Pieces of tissue from each sample were cultured on Potato
Dextrose Agar (PDA). Samples with mycelial growth were later cultured on sterilised
sorghum grains to produce spawns. Six substrates comprising Mansonia altissima. (A.
Chev) A. Chev sawdust, cotton waste Gossypium hirsutum Linn, rice straw Oryza
sativa Linn, each in polyethylene bags and drilled logs of Mangifera indica Linn,
Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Walp, and Cedrela odorata Linn, were purposively selected
for spawn inoculation to produce mushrooms. Morphological identification (colour,
shape and texture) of Auricularia species, the growth parameters (days of spawn run,
days of pin head formation), and yield of the mushrooms were determined using
standard procedures. Nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) and proximate
analysis (Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrate) were carried out using AOAC methods.
Fifteen Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were used for PCR
amplification of the DNA of Auricularia samples, to determine the degree of genetic
diversity. Phylogenetic relations were determined by cluster analysis, Polymorphic
Information Content (PIC) and genetic diversity determined using standard
procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, clustering and Principal
Component Analyses (PCA).
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN LIBRARY
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Morphologically, 31 samples of A. auricula, (yellow brown, auriform, leathery
texture) and 12 samples of A. polytricha (dark brown, discoid, gelatinous) were
identified, while 5 samples were unidentified and 6 samples did not grow. Auricularia
species samples cultivated on M. altissima sawdust, cotton waste, rice straw in bags
produced mycelial growth, but did not fructify while samples on drilled logs had
mycelial growth and fructified. Mangifera indica had highest days of spawn run
(24.3±0.7), pin head formation (28.7± 0.6) and highest yield (10.0±0.4 g). The highest
nitrogen content (13.6 ±0.7 mg/kg) was recorded in A. polythrica, phosphorus
(39.3±7.6 mg/kg) in A. auricula and calcium (61.9 ± 3.6 mg/kg) in A. auricula. The
highest protein (7.0±0.8%) and crude fibre (25.1±2.5%) were obtained in A.
polythrica. Fat content (7.0 ± 0.1mg/kg) was highest in A. auricula. Cluster analysis
and morphological traits produced 6 distinct groups while the PCA produced
eigenvalues of 23.0 %, 16.0 %, 14.0 %, 11.0 %, 10.0 % and 9.0 % on six
corresponding axes. The RAPD primers grouped the Auricularia species into 6
distinct clusters based on morphological traits. The PIC ranged from 0.5594 (OPH-
15) to 0.7819 (OPB-12) and gene diversity from 0.5930 (OPH-15) to 0.7977 (OPB-
12). Primer OPB-12 was the most informative for genetic diversity of Auricularia
species.
Auricularia species exhibited genetic variations and Mangifera indica
enhanced their growth. Auricularia polytricha was the most nutritious species
recorded.
Keywords: Mushroom cultivation, Mangifera indica substrate, Polymorphic
information content.
EKUN, V (2021). Cultivation And Molecular Characterisation Of Auricularia Species In Southwestern Nigeria. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/cultivation-and-molecular-characterisation-of-auricularia-species-in-southwestern-nigeria-1
EKUN, Victor "Cultivation And Molecular Characterisation Of Auricularia Species In Southwestern Nigeria" Afribary. Afribary, 11 Apr. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/cultivation-and-molecular-characterisation-of-auricularia-species-in-southwestern-nigeria-1. Accessed 05 Nov. 2024.
EKUN, Victor . "Cultivation And Molecular Characterisation Of Auricularia Species In Southwestern Nigeria". Afribary, Afribary, 11 Apr. 2021. Web. 05 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/cultivation-and-molecular-characterisation-of-auricularia-species-in-southwestern-nigeria-1 >.
EKUN, Victor . "Cultivation And Molecular Characterisation Of Auricularia Species In Southwestern Nigeria" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 05, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/cultivation-and-molecular-characterisation-of-auricularia-species-in-southwestern-nigeria-1