Auricularia species is a jelly- like edible fungus usually with mild flavour. It is also known as wood ear mushroom because of its ear-shaped morphology. Nigeria is blessed with many species of these edible mushrooms; however, not much research effort has been given to the cultivation of Auricularia species. Wild species of Auricularia were collected from different locations within southern Nigeria. Pure cultures of these species were obtained and identified using both phenotypic and molecular tools protocols. The spawn of Auricularia species was produced using paddy and sorghum grains. The rates of ramification of the spawn on the two substrates were monitored. Cultivation of the mushroom species on a mixture of sawdust, palm waste and rice bran at varying ratios was conducted. The mushroom isolate was identified as Auricularia species. Isolated species were cultivated on sawdust and Palm waste substrates supplemented at different ratios with rice bran waste for sporophores formation. The full ramification of the substrate was achieved after 35 days from the date of inoculation for sawdust. Palm waste (100%), Palm waste: sawdust: rice bran (80:10:10) ramified faster than sawdust substrates with full ramification achieved on the 28 days after inoculation. The analysis of variance of mycelia running on both substrates shows significant difference at P<0.05 probability level. In conclusion, Nigerian strain of Auricularia species was successfully cultivated on agro wastes.

Keywords: Sporophore, Auricularia, agro wastes