Mycelial growth of Pleurotus ostreatus in Simarouba amara sawdust

The objective of this work was to assess the mycelial growth of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) cultivated in sawdust of Simarouba amara. Evaluations were made for the effect of temperatures 22, 25, 27, 30 and 35 degrees C on the mycelial growth of P. ostreatus in 3% malt-agar and SDA-MA (infusion of S. amara sawdust, enriched with soybean meal-dextrose-agar) media; and the mycelial growth in cultivation substrate of S. amara sawdust, with and without supplementation of soybean meal, at 25 and 30 degrees C. The best development of P. ostreatus was in 3% malt-agar medium at 25 degrees C. Soybean meal supplementation on S. amara sawdust promoted mycelial growth.