Chandra Mohanan, R.2014-05-312014-05-312007-02-08J.Plantn.Crops 1993 Suppl. v-21 p-161-163http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2116Chemical sterilization of areca leaf sheath in a solution of formalin + carbendazim for 18 h. was found to be better than steam pasteurization for the cultivation oiPleurotus sajor-caju. The average yield of fresh mushroom was the highest (418 g/bag containing 3.5 kg wet weight of leaf sheath) in the treatment formalin 500 ppm + carbendazim 25 ppm,with a biological efficiency of 49.8 per cent. The average time taken for first flush from the day of spawning was 19 days. The results of the study indicate the possbility of adopting chemical sterilization of areca leaf sheath instead of steam pasteurization of the substrate.enpleurotus sajor-cajuchemical sterilizationareca leaf sheathArticle