The vegetative growth response of three local edible mushrooms:
Pleurotus pulmonarius
(Pp),
Pleurotus tuber-regium
(Pt) and
Lentinus squarrosulus
(Ls) on different concentrations of Crude oil (COIL), Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), Fresh Engine Oil (ENGOIL) and Spent Engine Oil (SENGOIL) was investigated. The result showed variable degree of sensitivity of the three mushrooms to each of the pollutants at different concentrations used.
Pleurotus tuber regium grew fastest among the three organisms on all pollutants and radial growth was observed at all concentrations. Almost the same pattern of growth was observed for
Pleurotus pulmonarius and
Lentinus squarossulus. Radial growth for both was supported by crude oil and AGO at all concentrations whereas growth on Engine oil (Fresh and Spent) was not observed beyond 10% concentration. There was significant reduction in radial growth as concentration of pollutants increased (P= 0.05). @JASEM
