Pleurotus ostreatus, known as oyster mushroom, pearl oyster or gray oyster mushroom, is a very common edible mushroom. It was first cultivated in Germany as a survival measure during World War I and is grown commercially throughout the world. It is related to the cardoncello mushroom which is also cultivated. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe oyster mushroom is easily recognized by the way it grows on wood in shelf-like clusters, usually large, and by its almost absent stem. It appears between October and early April throughout North America and features a brown oyster-shaped cap and a range of white to gray colors. Numerous similar species are closely related, including Pleurotus pulmonarius (which is often paler and appears between late April and September) and Pleurotus populinus (found on aspen wood). It can be described as a fan-shaped or broad oyster-shaped hat. The gills are white to cream in color while the flesh is white, rigid and of different thickness with stem arrangement. It has the sweet and sour aroma of benzaldehyde, which is a characteristic of bitter almonds. These mushrooms grow in two phases called vegetative or mycelial. In the growth of P. ostreatus, after the germination of the spores of the mycelium grown in vitro, the hyphae (microscopic filaments) will invade the substrate. The hyphae continue to grow and branch to form a hyphal network. Micellar growth is generally associated with increased respiration and enzyme production. Before completing the hyphal invasion, the hyphae absorb digestive products and then penetrate the substrate. Vegetative growth provides the nutritional materials necessary for mushroom growth through direct contact with the substrate. Pleurotus ostreatus is also known as a carnivorous mushroom because its mycelium can kill and digest nematodes (small roundworms). The fungus acts as a primary decomposer of wood and beech trees thanks to its sapotrophic nutrition. They actually benefit the forest by decomposing dead wood, returning essential elements and minerals to the ecosystem in a form useful to other plants and organisms (figure 2). It is usually found in temperate subtropical forests throughout the world, but is absent in the Pacific Northwest of North America. Other uses of these mushrooms can also help your body. A study showed that they produce lovastatin, which is a cholesterol-lowering drug and consumption of their extracts lowered cholesterol levels in a person. The role in the process of mycorestoration is very fascinating as it is used to reduce pollution levels in some areas. Oyster mushrooms are also effective at breaking down organic bonds in toxic chemicals, petroleum products, paper and coffee grounds. These mushrooms also contain small amounts of arabitol, a sugar alcohol, which can cause gastrointestinal distress in some people. Besides that, they are widely grown and used in India, Czech Republic, and Slovakia, where they are used to cook a variety of dishes such as stir-fry dishes, stews, and soups. Cultivated cardoncelli mushrooms not only have a sweet but also varied flavor, because they can be used as a delicate flavoring agent in many ways. The economic importance of the mushroom mainly uses it as food for human consumption. It contains most of the mineral salts necessary for the human body such as niacin, vitamin C, vitamin B complex and proteins. The niacin content is ten times higher than that of any other vegetable. It is very suitable for people..