Mycelial Growth Rate, Fruiting Body Yield, Calcium Content and Calcium Form of Pleurotus ostreatus Fruiting Bodies Cultivated on Media Enriched with Sesame Hulls.

In order to investigate the efficient use of food waste (sesame hulls) and determine the changes in the form of calcium contained therein, a strain of Pleurotus ostreatus was cultured on media enriched with sesame hulls, and mycelial growth rate, fruiting body yield, calcium content and calcium form were determined. The mycelial growth rate for sawdust and sesame hull (weight ratio of 7:3 and 8:2) medium was comparable to that for sawdust to rice bran (volume ratio of 5:1) medium; thus, sesame hulls can be used as a medium substrate. The calcium content of fruiting bodies cultivated on rice bran media was higher than those on mixed media containing sesame hulls. Among the fruiting bodies cultivated on mixed media containing sesame hulls, the calcium content of fruiting bodies was highest for the 9:1 sawdust to sesame hull medium. The fruiting body yield for 100% sesame hull medium was the highest, and about 72% of the calcium in those fruiting bodies was water-soluble. By cultivating P. ostreatus on 100% sesame hull medium, calcium oxalate in sesame hulls is converted inside the fruiting bodies into calcium salts that are slightly more absorbable by the human body.