Paper Title
Use of the Tea Wastes in Pleurotus Cultivation as an Alternative Substrate Material in Turkey Under Conventional Controlled Climate

Abstract
Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushroom is known as one of the most cultivated and consumed mushroom species in the world. The easy and rapid preparation of the substrate of this mushroom species is increased the interest of producers. The most commonly used substrate material in Pleurotus cultivation is sawdust. However, recently the difficulties in providing sawdust have led producers to search for alternative substrate materials. Therefore, different local agricultural wastes have started to be used in oyster mushroom cultivation in different countries. Tea is consumed as hot and soft drink in Turkish culture for long years. Therefore, tea wastes can be obtained in high quantities every year in the country. In this study, the effect of tea waste on cultivation of Pleurotus was investigated in Horticulture Department of Çukurova University between 2016 and 2017. The study was planned to be performed in two different climate conditions for mushroom growth room, since it is a well-known fact that climate conditions of the growth rooms directly affect the yield and the quality of the mushroom. In this paper the results of the room obtained with conventional climate control were given. In the study; poplar sawdust, oak sawdust, bran, wheat stalk and tea waste were mixed at different ratios: poplar sawdust:bran (2 w:1 w), oak sawdust:bran (2 w:1 w), wheat stalk:bran (5 w:0.25 w), tea waste: bran (3 w:1 w). High-temperature resistant polypropylene bags contained 1 kg substrate were used and 25 g mycelia were added to the each cultivation bag. At the end of the study, the highest yield was obtained from wheat stalk:bran and tea waste:bran mixtures with 210 g/1 kg substrate and 207.14 g/1 kg substrate, respectively. While 33 g/1 kg substrate was obtained from oak sawdust:bran mixture, poplar sawdust:bran mixture resulted with 74.11 g/1 kg substrate. The results obtained in the study clearly showed that tea waste can be used successfully as substrate material in Pleurotus cultivation. Key words - Pleurotus ostreatus, cultivation, different substrates, tea waste