EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEGUMINOUS LEAF AS HEAT ACTIVATOR ON MUSHROOM BED FOR (Volvariella volvacea)

(Volvariella volvacea) paddy straw mushroom is one of the edible mushroom that cultivated in the tropical and subtropical area. The mushroom usually is grown on the lignocellulosic agricultural waste as a substrate. The utilization of agricultural waste as growth media: (banana leaves) were used. The field experiment was conducted at Mindanao State University, General Santos City, South Cotabato last November 2021 at the College of Agriculture- Nursery Area to evaluate the performance of heat activators in mushroom formation. Also, the study was conducted to determine which heat activator improved production and yield performance of straw mushroom. The gathered data were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan Multiple Range Test to compare the difference among treatment means. The substrate were laid on the 1.00 x 0.30x 0.30meter-bed in 6.00 x 5.00 meter shaded area. The result showed the pinheads colonized the substrate at 5 days (ipil-ipil and madre de cacao), and 6 days (acacia and control) after inoculation. The first flushing appeared at the button stage of 6 days (madre de cacao and ipil-ipil), 6.50 (acacia), and 7 days (control) from pinhead formation, The duration of flushing lasted at 9 days (ipil-ipil and madre de cacao), 8.5 days (acacia), and 8 days (control). The number of harvested and weighed buttons and the total yield were highly significant to each other, where T3, incorporated with ipil- ipil leaves showed the most numbered of yield among other treatments. Ipil-ipil leaves as heat activator can effectively shorten the days of button formation and improved yield performance of mushroom. Statistical analysis showed significant differences on incorporation of madre de cacao, ipil-ipil and acacia leaves. Therefore, it is recommended to incorporate ipil-ipil leaves in mushroom bed to improve performance of the straw mushroom.