The cultivation and nutritional value of Pleurotus sajor-caju

A method for the cultivation of Pleurotus sajorcaju on a relatively large scale using cotton waste as substrate has been developed, and the mushroom so obtained has higher protein content than and comparable carbohydrate content to Agaricus bisporus, Volvariella volvacea, Lentinus edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus. The crude fats, ash, energy value, vitamin and mineral contents are lower and yet the differences are not great. The biological efficiency from cotton waste compost is lower than that from straw compost, however, the former has the advantage of giving rather even yield over successive flushes. This mushroom has a high potential to be produced economically on a large scale in Hong Kong.