Response Surface-optimized Formulation for Culturing Pleurotus giganteus Spawns

Objective Culture medium for growing Pleurotus giganteus spawns was formulated by means of response surface optimization.

Methods  A single factor fermentation experiment was carried out in triangular shaking flasks to evaluate the effects of 6 carbon sources, 8 nitrogen sources, and 11 inorganic salts on mycelial growth of P. giganteus ZD9. Box-Behnken response surface design was used to optimize the medium formula.

Results  The dry weight biomass of the spawns peaked at 1.33 g·100 mL⁻¹ on the 6^th day of culture in the optimized medium, which was formulated with the following ingredients at per liter rates of 70 g whole wheat flour, 27 g soybean meal powder, 2 g KCl, and 2 g MgSO₄·7H₂O to obtain a mycelial biomass at the concentration of 2.51 g·100 mL⁻¹.

Conclusion  The optimized medium for culturing P. giganteus spawns achieved an 89% improvement on mycelial biomass production.