Graduate Student South Dakota State University, United States
Abstract: The current traditional mushroom production market is unable to meet the ever-increasing demand for mushrooms for various applications. Mushroom production is highly labor intensive, and expensive process. Irrespective of whether a basic or sophisticated system is used. it requires high levels of skill, management, and specialized treatment to produce consistent yields. Microbial contamination (insects, pests, fungus) is also known to be the major cause of the reduction in mushroom yield. Besides aforementioned challenges, co-generation of bulk quantities of spent mushroom substrates (SMS) as biowaste is limiting the expansion of mushroom production. Most importantly substrates used for the mushroom production can influence various key factors that are associated with the mushroom production. Hence, the objectives of this critical review are to, i) study the various substrates that are being currently used for the mushroom production; ii) identify the pros and cons of the various substrate types on mushroom production and mushroom quality; iii) study the potential of utilizing oilseed processing waste as a substrate for the simultaneous production of mushroom and biowaste reduction. Significance:This assess a new way to grow mushrooms that is sustainable, a solution to a food shortage problem, a technology that will use substrates that are already determined to be waste and with low value, provide all-natural animal feed supplements, as well as provide multiple streams of income for farmers.
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