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Three supplements,Cottonseedmeal(CSM),Soyabean meal(SBM) and Peanutmeal(PNM)@2% were evaluated on strains P1 and U3 of Agaricus bisporus. Wheat straw compost with three initial N level 1.75%,1.5% and 1.25%.Supplementation of CSM at the time of spawning in 1.75% N compost gave the best results.Ruffling of the compost during supplementation had a detrimental effect,related to the increase in temperature. Of the four concentrations of supplement tried, CSM @2% added at the time of spawning or casing proved to be best giving a yield of 29.6 and 31.3 kg/100kg compost, respectively.Treatment of CSM and SBM with 1000-7000ppm of formaldehyde andb addition at spawning/casing had no positive effect on the yield.The yield response of seven strains to the supplementation of formaldehyde treated (3000ppm CSM @1.5%) on three types of compost mixture resulted in poor yield.Three growth promoters,cysteine hydrochloride, hydroxyl ammonium chloride and ethylene glycol were also evaluated.All of them resulted in increased protease (162- 166%) and cellobiase (150-175%) activity.An increase in yield of 16% and 28% of U3 and P1 respectively,was obtained with weekly spray of ethylene glycol(@3500ppm)

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Dr Seema Garcha Ph.D. did her class graduate at Panjab University,and her post graduate from Punjab Agricultural University. She is currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Punjabi University, Patiala and is she is a Merit Fellowship holder throughout her PhD and PG.

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