Utilization of Robinia pseudoacacia as Sawdust Medium for Cultivation of Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms

This study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) as substrates for several edible mushrooms. For the cultivation of several edible and/or medicinal fungi on black locust, optimum bulk densities, synthetic or semisynthetic additives, natural additives and pretreatment methods were investigated. Fruit body yields of the fungi on various sawdust media composed of different wood species were also analyzed for testing the capability of black locust as a substrate for mushroom production. Mycelial growths decreased proportional when the bulk density increased. The most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources as additives to promote the mycelial growth were sucrose (2%, w/w) and ammonium phosphate (0.2%, w/w) respectively. When corn-powder and beer-waste as natural additives were added to sawdust of black locust showed the significant growth of mycelia. And the optimum mixing ratio was 10:2:1 (sawdust: corn-powder: beer-waste, w/w). Black locust after cold water treatment showed the outstanding mycelial growths. Any significant changes of pH, moisture content (%) and dry-weight losses (%) could not be found among culture substrates (sawdust of black locust, oak and poplar wood) examined before and after harvesting of fruit bodies. Yield of fruit bodies on black locust culture media were comparable with those culture media composed with oak and poplar wood. The present work indicated strongly the potentiality of black locust as raw materials for edible and medicinal mushrooms.