A Doctoral Dissertation at the College of Agriculture Examines Nutritional and Biological Fortification to Enhance the Productivity and Therapeutic Potential of the Oyster Mushroom (*Pleurotus sapidus*), Assess the Fertility Properties of Farm Residues, and Determine the Inhibitory Activity of Their Extracts

A Doctoral Dissertation at the College of Agriculture Investigates Nutritional and Biological Fortification to Enhance the Productivity and Therapeutic Potential of the Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus sapidus)

The College of Agriculture at the University of Diyala discussed a doctoral dissertation entitled “Nutritional and Biological Fortification in the Productivity and Therapeutic Potential of the Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus sapidus), Evaluation of the Fertility Properties of Farm Residues, and Assessment of the Inhibitory Activity of Their Extracts.”

The study, submitted by doctoral researcher Miaad Ibrahim Turki, developed an integrated model that combines the utilization of wild plants from diverse environments to enhance oyster mushroom production and improve plant growth, while developing biological solutions for controlling pathogenic bacteria. This research approach seeks to address interconnected aspects of food security, environmental sustainability, and public health at both the local and global levels.

This research direction is consistent with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through the production of affordable, protein-rich food, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through the recycling of wild plants and spent growing substrates and transforming them into value-added resources.

The Study Recommended:

• Adding 2% of Alhagi (Alhagi maurorum) extract to the nutrient media used for oyster mushroom cultivation to accelerate the daily growth rate and mycelial colonization, while also investigating other medicinal plant extracts.
• Exploring the potential use of spent growing substrate as a fertilizer to promote the growth of cowpea and extending such investigations to other crops.
• Conducting further research into the potential use of mushroom extracts as an inexpensive natural source for antibiotic production aimed at inhibiting pathogenic bacteria.

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