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Abstract: Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) grows wild in forests of hilly areas in northern Pakistan. These are collected by local people for eating and selling purposes. The sun-dried mushroom is sold in metropolitan departmental stores. (Khan et al, 1980). Only a few species of Oyster mushroom have been commercially cultivated. It is rated high in taste, amino-acid composition and keeping quality (Kirtzman, 1975). Oyster mushroom is usually cultivated in temperate areas of the world but some species like P. flabellatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida (strain 3526) have also been cultivated in sub-tropical areas (Quimio, 1978). Schmaus (1972) tried different substrates like fallen branch wood, bark, saw dust and corn cobs for its cultivation. Delm et al. (1974) tried compost containing tree bark and maize cob in 50:50 ratio. The yield was higher on the compost than tree bark or corn cobs used alone. Yoshikawa (1975) used dry peel of citrus fruits as substrate for cultivation of oyster mushroom which proved a satisfactory substrate. Park et al. (1975) tried rice and wheat straw as substrate. The yield on rice straw was slightly higher than wheat-straw. In Pakistan, cotton is cultivated on 1843.2 thousand hectares with an annual production of 610.8 tons. Cotton boll locules are, therefore, available as an agricultural waste in large quantities. In view of their abundance, studies were carried out to cultivate oyster mushroom on this agricultural waste.
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