EFFECT OF MATURITY ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF TWO NIGERIAN MUSHROOMS PLEUROTUS PULMONARIUS AND PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS.
Pleurotuspulmonarius and Pleurotusostreatus, were analysed for their food nutrients at juvenile, young and mature fruit body stages. Crude protein, crude fibre, carbohydrate, moisture, crude ash and fat contents were found to increase as the fruit body developed in maturity. In contrast, no such definite trend was observed in the distribution of the mineral contents during fruit body development. The fibre, protein, crude ash and fat extract of the pilei at any stage of sporophore maturity were higher than those of the stipes in the two species, P. pulmonarius and P. ostreatus. Matured and young fruit-bodies of P.ostreatus contained more potassium than P.pulmonarius. While Sodium was the major element in P.pulmonarius increasing as the mushroom matures from juvenile to mature stages.Phosphorus also followed the same trend in both P.pulmonarius and P.ostreatus, steady increase was recorded from juvenile to mature stages in pilei and stipes.No significant differences in Calcium, Copper and Zinc of pilei and stipes of P.pulmonarius and P.ostreatus in all maturity stages as these elements were at minimal level.Iron was at the highest peak in the stipe of P.pulmonarius increasing from the juvenile to mature stages, the trend was also recorded for P.ostreatus but at minimal level. Pileus acts as sink for these nutrients as shown in the present study.The greater amounts of crude fibre in the stipes of the two mushrooms may be due to the fact that this substance is required to strengthen the stipe so as to support the pileus. The study revealed that P. pulmonariusand P. ostreatusare best harvested for table at maturity stages, Pleurotusostreatuswas discovered to contain more nutritive properties compared to P. pulmonarius.