In: Sydowia 74, (2021): 153-161; ISSN 0082-0598, DOI 10.12905/0380.sydowia74-2021-0153, Published online on August 30, 2021

Evaluation of agroforestry waste for cultivation of wood
ear mushroom (Auricularia polytricha) and its
antimicrobial activity

Surya Prakash V.1, Savita Jandaik*, Sunita Chandel, Satish Kumar, Rajneesh Thakur,
Rajender Singh Jarial & Kumud Jarial

Department of Plant Pathology, Dr Yaswant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (HP),
India, 173230.
ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), India
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri Hamirpur (HP), India

* e-mail: drsavitajandaik@gmail.com

Prakash V.S, Jandaik S., Chandel S., Kumar S., Thakur R., Jarial R.S. & Jarial K. (2021) Evaluation of agroforestry waste for
cultivation of wood ear mushroom (Auricularia polytricha) and its antimicrobial activity. – Sydowia 74: 153–161.
Various agroforestry wastes viz., wheat straw, paddy straw, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust were assessed for the yield
potential of Auricularia polytricha. Amongst different substrates used, yield and biological efficiency ranged between
194.33±4.50- 270.50±1.84 g and 64.78±1.50 – 90.17±0.61 %, respectively. Primordial initiation was observed 13 to 25 days after
making the vertical slits on the bags in all the substrates tested. The yield of A. polytricha varied significantly with the type of
grain spawn used for spawning wheat straw substrate. The overall biological efficiency was recorded highest on wheat grain
spawned substrate. The minimum time for primordial initiation and maximum biological efficiency was observed on substrate
spawned with wheat straw at the rate of 4 %. The fruit body extracts and cultural filtrate of A. polytricha showed promising
antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Cercospora tageticola. Methanolic extract of fruit body showed better antifungal
properties than aqueous fruit body extract against both the tested phytopathogenic fungi. Both the extracts (fruit body
and mycelia) were also tested against human pathogenic bacteria. Fruit bodies extract of A. polytricha resulted in the maximum
zone of inhibition (28.57±0.17 mm) against S. aureus, followed by (28.27±0.13 mm) zone of inhibition against the same bacteria
by mycelia extract. MIC was 1.5 mg/ml against S. aureus, 2.5 mg/ml against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and
1.25 mg/ml against Klebsiella pneumonia. Fruit body and mycelial extract of A. polytricha showed promising antifungal activity
against phytopathogenic fungi and antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria that warrant further studies as
a future Auricularia based biological control products against plant pathogenic fungi and dietary supplement to improve health.

Keywords: Auricularia, growing substrate, spawn, sporophores, poisoned food technique.