The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Matthew Helton will present Master’s research titled, UTILIZING THE INVASIVE FRUITWOOD PYRUS CALLERYANA AS SUBSTRATE FOR MUSHROOM CULTIVATION, AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN PRACTICAL SUSTAINABILITY. on 05/18/2026 at 12:00 pm in Holt Hall, Room 211. Everyone is invited to attend.
Environmental Science
Chair: Hill Craddock
Co-Chair:
Abstract:
This study evaluated the feasibility of using woodchips from the invasive Pyrus calleryana (Callery pear) as substrate for mushroom cultivation. Pleurotus ostreatus, Hericium erinaceus, and Ganoderma lucidum were grown on a pear wood substrate and on a conventional oak substrate to compare, yield, sensory attributes, and metabolite production. P. ostreatus showed no significant differences in yield or biological efficiency (p > 0.05), though sweetness (p = 0.022) and bitterness (p = 0.048) differed significantly. H. erinaceus yield and efficiency were similar (p > 0.05), with greater second-flush yields in oak controls (p = 0.034) but no sensory differences (p > 0.05). G. lucidum performance was comparable across treatments (p > 0.05), yet triterpenoid content was reduced in pear substrates (p = 0.031). Results indicate P. calleryana biomass can sustain edible mushroom production without affecting yield or quality, while substrate composition influences bioactive metabolite synthesis, supporting invasive biomass valorization as a sustainable management strategy.