Author(s): Maria Fernandes, Carlos Garcia and Sophia Zhang

Abstract: The growing global interest in edible mushrooms with medicinal and nutritional benefits has spurred research into optimizing cultivation practices for Pleurotus ostreatus. One promising avenue is the use of Biochar as a substrate amendment to improve yield, nutritional composition, and therapeutic potential. This research titled “Role of Biochar in Improving the Therapeutic and Herbal Value of Pleurotus ostreatus” explores how incorporation of biochar into conventional mushroom substrates affects mycelial growth, fruiting body characteristics, yield, proximate composition (protein, minerals), and bioactive compound accumulation. Drawing upon prior findings that biochar?amended spent mushroom substrate (SMS) enhances moisture retention, reduces nutrient loss, accelerates fruiting, and increases yield by 20-25% compared to conventional substrate, the work hypothesizes that optimized biochar supplementation (at low concentrations) can significantly elevate both the nutritional and therapeutic value of P. ostreatus. Experimental results demonstrate improved mycelial colonization speed, higher crude protein content (notably at moderate biochar level), enriched mineral profile and enhanced bioactive metabolite concentration, without compromising biological efficiency or yield quality. These findings suggest that biochar supplementation constitutes an effective, sustainable strategy to augment the herbal and nutritional value of P. ostreatus, potentially fulfilling a dual role in waste valorization and functional food production. The implications of this work extend to sustainable mushroom cultivation, waste management, and development of value?added fungal products with health benefits.

DOI: 10.22271/flora.2025.v13.i2a.1042