Basidiomycetous Mycelial Isolates as Compost Inoculant

Screening of basidiomycetous mycelial isolates as compost inoculant. One practical way to dispose wastes is thru bio-conversion into composts using basidiomycetous fungi which degrade the wastes into simpler compounds and bring back the nutrients to the soil. Seven different basidiomycetous mycelial isolates were obtained from mushroom fruiting bodies gathered from VISCA Forest Reserve and screened for their decomposition ability as compost inoculant of agricultural waste substrates namely: rice hull, rice straw, banana leaves, leaf litter and sawdust.

Preliminary results showed that isolate no. 1 identified as a Marasmius sp. gave the highest linear growth (5.0 cm) on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at 8 days after inoculation. Together with three other vigorously growing isolates, the fungus was further tested and compared with Trichoderma sp. for its ability to decompose the different farm wastes in test tubes. Trichoderma sp. exhibited significantly faster growth than the isolate no. 1 and grew well on all substrates used. Isolate no. 1 had comparable growth on rice hull , rice straw and banana leaves. All the substrates excluding sawdust were degraded well by the basidiomycetous isolates. Further test showed Marasmius sp. (no.1) to have a good potential as a compost inoculant owing to its ability to utilize nutrients in the rice hull substrate as indicated by greater weight loss of the compost after 20 days of growth. The fungus can be a good alternative to Trichoderma sp. as a compost activator because of its thick, abundant growth and ability to maintain vegetative growth for a long time before sporulation.

Materials & Equipment




Further clarification of the procedures and results should be directed to the researchers and adviser.

Researchers:
Eula Marie C. Mangaoang

Adviser:
Leyte State University Laboratory HS