Improved fruiting of the straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) on cotton waste supplemented with sodium acetate.

Compared with controls, treatment of the cultivation substrate for Volvariella volvacea with 0.02% NaAc at the "spraying water" stage increased the number of fruiting body primordia by 280, the mushroom yield by 16.25%, the number of fruiting bodies by 35.57%, and the biological efficiency by 16.28%. The average single mushroom weight increased by 19.33%, but there was no significant difference between treatments and controls. A correlation analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between the total yield and the number of fruiting bodies. Comparisons of the cost and profit values for the sodium acetate-treated and untreated groups revealed that the former generated a higher income for the grower. Our data indicate that sodium acetate treatment is a promising new method for increasing V. volvacea yields. A possible mechanism whereby sodium acetate increased the mushroom yield is discussed.