Semester of Graduation
Summer 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Integrative Biology
Department
Molecular and Cellular Biology - College of Science and Mathematics
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Christopher Cornelison
Second Advisor
Dr. Mario Bretfeld
Third Advisor
Dr. Masafumi Yoshinaga
Abstract
Mushroom cultivation is regarded as a sustainable form of agriculture, capable of converting agricultural residues into food with minimal inputs. Yet standard practice in the expanding North American specialty mushroom industry does not reflect this potential: growers rely on commoditized substrates shipped across state lines and on single-use plastics, raising costs while limiting sustainability. This study evaluates regionally abundant agricultural byproducts and reusable cultivation systems as applied alternatives to these standards.
Soybean hull supplementation of hardwood sawdust increased Pleurotus ostreatus yields up to 37.5% (w/w), beyond which no further gains occurred, indicating that standard 50% formulations exceed the yield-maximizing rate. Peanut hulls and cotton-gin-byproduct were assessed as sawdust alternatives; cotton-gin-byproduct produced equivalent yields when supplemented at 50% (w/w), while peanut hulls outperformed sawdust without supplementation but responded differently to added nitrogen, indicating distinct supplementation demands between substrates. Manganese and copper supplementation produced no change in yield or fruiting period, while ammonium sulfate significantly reduced yield, indicating it is not a viable nitrogen source at the concentrations tested.
Reusable, autoclavable plastic bins were compared to single-use bag cultivation for vertical fruiting of Agrocybe aegerita, demonstrating a three-fold increase in productivity (kg m⁻² day⁻¹) with the addition of gas-exchange-ports. Cotton-gin-byproduct was also evaluated as a peat-free casing material, showing comparable water-holding capacity and near-neutral pH, though yield effects were not statistically resolved.
Collectively, these findings identify approaches to reducing material cost, plastic waste, and substrate dependency in specialty mushroom production, providing methodologies to support economically viable and environmentally resilient mushroom farming practices.