**5. Conclusions**

246 Recent Trends for Enhancing the Diversity and Quality of Soybean Products

The loss of organic matter (LOM) is the index that evaluates the substrate decomposition by the fungus. It was evaluated according to Sturion (1994), expressed by the following

> \* 100 *DMIS DMSS LOM DMSS*

Table 2 presents the development of the *L. strigosus*. The fructification happened three to five days after the primordia initiation (Table 2), with the development of vigorous

time

11 to 15 33 to 34 35 to 38 100 6 2 to 7 1 Table 2. Profile of the *Lentinus strigosus* mushroom cultivated in cajuí sawdust with soy bran

The high biological efficiency (BE) of the substrate formulated with cajuí sawdust, supplemented with soy bran demonstrates good productivity of the substrate (Table 3). The result (80%) is superior to other substrates used in cultivation of *P. ostreatus* mushroom formulated with sawdust of *Fagus orientalis* (Yildz et al., 2002), and with *Eucalyptus* sp. according to Marino et al. (2002) which presented BE equal to 8.6 to 64.3% and 11.4 to 43% in their respective studies. The good productivity of this substrate is the result of the quantity of material readily available and absorbed by fungus during the mycelial

Philippoussis *et al*. (2003) showed that the mycelial growth rate is related to the bioavailability of nitrogen and that the formulation of the substrate influences nutritional levels and porosity (availability of O2) and Gbolagade *et al*. (2006) stated that each fungus utilizes a specific C/N ratio. The soy bran provided a good source of protein for the fungus as we can see at the table 3 (20%). The results are very important for this edible mushroom, since they

The use of alternative substrates, easily obtained at low cost for the cultivation of edible mushrooms have been investigated in many publications (Özçelik and Pekşen, 2007; Philippoussis *et al*., 2007; Royse and Sanchez, 2007). The supplementation of the substrates with a nitrogen source, mainly with cereal bran, has been adopted to achieve a C/N ratio

Number of flushes

Pileus cm

Stipe cm

Where:

formula:

Where:

mushrooms.

Mycelial growth

BE= Biological efficiency, %

FMM= Fresh mass of mushrooms, g DMIS= Dry mass of the initial substrate, g

LOM = loss of organic matter,%

**4. Results and discussion** 

DMSS = Dry mass of the spent substrate, g DMIS = Dry mass of the initial substrate, g

Primordium

as protein source during 100 days.

Period (days)

emission Fruiting Cultivation

development process and the soy bran was a good source of protein.

present low lipid content (2.5%) and a high fiber level (18%).

good for the production of mushrooms.

The high biological efficiency of the mushroom in this substrate, formulated with the cajuí sawdust supplemented with soy bran, makes its use feasible for the cultivation of *Lentinus strigosus* mushroom from the Amazon Region. The soy bran provided a good source of protein for the fungus.

The findings presented herein point out the utilization of the Amazon wood waste as substrate for the mushroom cultivation, which will certainly promote the improvement of the social and economical conditions of its people and the sustainability of the biodiversity resources, enabling the establishment of a new economical niche in the region.

*L. strigosus* can be considered an important food in terms of their characteristics: rich in protein and low in fat, important for nutrition and human health.
