Figure 5. Gross Energy content (MJ/kg DM) of substrate after 18
weeks of solid-state fermentation using G. lucidum , P .ostreatus and Ganoderma #1 compared to an undigested
control.
Quantifying solid-state
fermentation
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated time of experimental sampling as
the only main effect resulting in significant differences (p <
0.05) for the mean ADF (Table 3) and mean NDF (Table 4). However,
mushroom species and time of experimental sampling contributed to
significant differences in the mean ADL (Table 5). Means separation
indicated all time 0 samples held the highest concentration for all
measured degradation parameters, ADF, NDF and ADL. After 18 weeks of
solid-state fermentation, all concentrations had collectively reduced by
11.66, 14.84 and 4.76 % (equating to g per 100 g dry matter; DM) for
mean ADF, NDF and ADL, respectively (Table 6). The mushroom species
which had supreme ability to degrade ADL was Ganoderma # 1, where
the lowest mean ADL (16.47 g per 100 g DM) was recorded. Consequently,Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum had reduced
abilities to degrade ADL compared to that of Ganoderma#1, although all mushroom species held the ability to
significantly degrade ADL through SSF collectively (Table 6). When
viewed individually (Table 7), as indicated by means separation,Ganoderma #1 showed increased degradation of all measured
parameters, with the exception of ADF. Additionally, Ganoderma#1 performed significantly greater in degradation capacity when
compared to benchmark strains G. lucidum and P. ostreatus(p < 0.05) which did not degrade parameters significantly when
compared between each other, although did degrade parameters
significantly more than the control (p < 0.05).
Table 3. Analysis of variance for mean acid detergent fibre
(ADF) across three mushroom species (Ganoderma lucidum, Ganoderma#1 and Pleurotus ostreatus ), with three substrate grind
consistency G2, where samples were taken from experiment initiation
(week 0) to competition (week 18).