This study aimed to assess the potential of olive press cake (OPC) as an alternative casing material for white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) cultivation. Five casing layer formulations, combining peat (P) and OPC at weight ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 (w/w), were evaluated alongside a peat-only control. The impact of these formulations on mushroom yield, nutrient composition, macro- and microelement concentrations, as well as lignocellulosic and chemical changes in the casing materials, was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. Mushroom yields across treatments ranged from 217.7 g/kg (P1:OPC1) to 334.2 g/kg (P3:OPC1), with the P2:OPC1, P3:OPC1, and P4:OPC1 formulations achieving significantly higher yields compared to the control treatment (238.8 g/kg). Mushrooms cultivated using the P1:OPC1 formulation exhibited higher protein (up to 29.33%), ash (13.57%), and crude fat (2.44%) contents, compared to reduced total carbohydrate levels, compared to other treatments. Macroelement analysis revealed notable increases in potassium (up to 7.18 g/100 g dry weight) and phosphorus (1.83 g/100 g) in mushrooms grown on the P1:OPC1 formulation. Additionally, microelement concentrations, including copper (15.65 mg/kg), zinc (44.70 mg/kg), and manganese (15.65 mg/kg), were significantly enriched in mushrooms from the P1:OPC1 treatment. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed extensive degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in the casing materials, driven by fungal enzymatic activity. These results suggest that OPC-enriched casing formulations not only enhance mushroom yield and nutritional composition but also improve macro- and microelement contents, underscoring their potential as a sustainable alternative to peat in mushroom cultivation.

This research was carried out to determine the interaction between some bacteria naturally existing in casing soil and Agaricus bisporus (Sylvan Hauser A15) hypha in laboratory (in vitro) and cultivation (in vivo) conditions, and to confirm its effects on mushroom yield. Totally 32 bacteria (3 Gram (+) and 29 Fluorescent Pseudomonads) was isolated from casing soil and healthy sporophores. As a result of in vitro experiment carried out to determine the effects of bacteria on mycelium growth of A. bisporus, 24 bacterial isolates were found more effective at the rate of 2 to 115% than control treatment. To determine the effects of bacterium, chosen at the end of in vitro experiments, on mushroom yield in cultivation conditions, three experiments were established in March, May and July in 2008. At the end of experiments, bacterial isolates provided 8 – 40 % increase in total yield. Population density and change in population number related to time was observed during growing period, after the inoculation of bacterial isolates into casing soil. According to the results, Pseudomonas fluorescens (T 4/2 and Ş 8), P.putida (Ş 2/1 and Ş 10) and Bacillus mycoides (T 7/2) bacterial isolates were colonized successfully both in casing soil and sporophores.

Bu çalışma, Agaricus bisporus yetiştiriciliğinde, örtü materyali olarak kullanılan torfa belli oranlarda eklenecek farklı boyutlardaki pomza taşının mantar verim ve kalitesi üzerine etkilerini tespit etmek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Bu amaçla, ince (0 - 4 mm), karışık (4 - 8 mm) ve iri (8 - 16 mm) boyutlarda temin edilen pomza, torf ile %5 - %10 - %15 - %20 oranlarında karıştırılmış ve ayrıca kontrol amacıyla torf tek başına kullanılmıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, verim bakımından %85 torf +%15 karışık pomza uygulamasının etkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Bu karışım kontrol uygulaması olan torfa göre % 21 oranında verim artışı sağladığı tespit edilmiştir. Karpafor ağırlığı ve şapka ağırlığı dikkate alındığında farklı boyutlardaki pomzanın hacimsel olarak %5 - 10 - 15 oranlarda torf ile karıştırılması sonucunda kontrole göre daha yüksek değerlerin elde edildiği görülmüştür.