Mushrooms of Pleurotus genus usually grow well in substrates containing low amounts of nitrogen, whereas Agaricus mushrooms require substrates with a high content of nitrogen. On the other hand, the nutritional values of mushrooms depend on the chemical composition of the substrate in use and the conditions of cultivation. The aim of this work is to measure the protein content of the fructification bodies of Pleurotus sajor-caju cultivated in coast-cross grass, sugar cane bagasse, whole wheat meal and various nitrogen concentrations. Only the substrates with nitrogen content ranging from 0.65 to 1.30% were colonized, while in the substrates with 1.75 and 2.20% of nitrogen, colonization did not occur. There was no significant difference in the production of mushrooms, however the protein content of the mushrooms produced on the substrate with 1.30% of N was considerably higher in relation to those mushrooms grown in substrates with a reduced nitrogen content.
Pleurotus sajor-caju; chemical composition; protein content
