BIODELIGNIFICATION OF RICE HUSK AND SORGHUM STOVER BY EDIBLE MUSHROOM (Pleurotus sajor caju)

Abstract

Edible mushroom, Plezrrotus sajor caju was grown at 370C in solid state culture on rice
husk and sorghum stover. The rice husk and stover had 5.66% and 8.45% permanganate
lignin and holocellulose fraction of 50.54 and 72.68%) respectively. After three weeks, the
fungi produced a solid residue from the two agricultural wastes with higher crude protein
and ash contents (P < 0.05) and low hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose contents. The
fungi decreased Iignin content by 33.86"/0 of the original value of rice husk and 39.05'%f)o r
sorghum stover. There was a higher in-vitro dry-matter enzymatic digesti-bility
(IVDMED) than the original samples but the best value was recorded for rice husk (23-
28%) compared to sorghum stover (15-20°/"). The increased IVDMED was positively
correlated with lignin, hemicellulose and lignin losses. The fungus showed a preference
for hemicellulose over cellulose.
The results revealed that treatment of rice husk and sorghum stover with edible
mushroom (Pleurotus sajor caju) degraded the cellwall and enhanced the availability of
energy and fungal protein.