ANALYSIS OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLEUROTUS PULMONARIUS 2314 IBK (FR.) QUÉL. AS QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MUSHROOM RAW MATERIAL
Pleurotus pulmonarius or Lung Oyster is commonly known as Phoenix Mushroom, the Indian or Italian Oyster, has a few differences in comparing with Pleurotus ostreatus, for example, the fast substrate colonization, high level of sporulation and short technological cycle. These peculiarities give some economic preferences for mushroom growers in the summer cultivation time. During the study, the mass of clusters Pl. pulmonarius 2314 IBK with biological maturity was on 35% more than for technological stage. The collecting mushrooms in that stage will improve economic benefits in case fast selling or processing. After statistical tests, the significant differences (p < 0,05) for a cap square and a round shape were recognized for the fruit bodies in bio- and technological stages. So younger fruit bodies have Kass = 1, 04 and their square was on 20% less compared with the biological stage. In addition, the color of mushrooms caps with technological maturity was darker. In spite of, the mass of fruit bodies on both stages didn’t have differences, the loss of dry substance was observed. Consequently, growers must collect Pl. pulmonarius 2314 IBK with a technological stage in a reason to keep the nutrition and biological value and the best visual attractions during the storage time. The study revealed a number of changes in the qualitative characteristics of the fruiting bodies of the fungus of the lung strain Pleurotus pulmonarius 2314 during morphogenesis. The fungus growths of this strain at the stage of biological maturity are characterized by a higher mass, therefore, in the case of rapid implementation or use of mushroom raw materials for processing, more economically feasible harvesting of mushrooms is at this stage. In our opinion, it is necessary to further investigate the changes in the biochemical composition of the fruiting bodies and the manifestations of microbiological lesions during the onset of sporulation, in order to obtain undoubted confirmations of this possibility.