Pleurotus ostreatus, known as oyster mushroom, pearl oyster or gray oyster mushroom, is a very common edible mushroom. It was first grown in Germany as a survival measure during World War I and is grown commercially throughout the world. It is related to the also cultivated king oyster mushroom. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe oyster mushroom is easily recognized by the way it grows on wood in shelf-like clusters, usually large, and with almost absent stem. It appears between October and early April throughout North America and has a brown oyster-shaped cap and its color range is white to gray. A number of similar species are closely related, including Pleurotus pulmonarius (which is often paler and appears between late April and September) and Pleurotus populinus (found on the wood of the aspen). It can be described as a fan-shaped or oyster-shaped hat. The gills are white to cream in color while the flesh is white, stiff and differs in thickness depending on the arrangement of the stipes. It has the bittersweet aroma of benzaldehyde, characteristic of bitter almonds. These mushrooms grow in two phases called vegetative or mycelial. In the growth of P. ostreatus, after the germination of spores from in vitro cultured mycelia, hyphae (microscopic filaments) will invade the substrate. The hyphae continue to grow and branch to form a hyphal network. Mycelial growth is generally accompanied by increased respiration and enzyme production. Before completing hyphal invasion, the hyphae absorb digestive products and then penetrate the substrate. Vegetative growth provides the nutrients necessary for the growth of fungi through direct contact with the substrate. Pleurotus ostreatus is also known as a carnivorous mushroom because its mycelia 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 breaking down dead wood, returning essential elements and minerals to the ecosystem in a form useful to other plants and organisms (Figure 2). It is typically found in temperate subtropical forests around the world, but is absent from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Other uses of these mushrooms can also help your body. One study showed that they produce the cholesterol-lowering drug lovastatin, and that consuming their extracts lowered a person's cholesterol levels. The role in the mycoremediation process is very fascinating as it helps reduce pollution levels in certain areas. Oyster mushrooms are also effective in 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 upset in some people. Apart from this, they are widely grown and used in India, Czech and Slovak Republic, where they are used to cook a variety of dishes such as stir-fries, stews and soups. Cultivated oyster mushrooms not only have a sweet but also varied taste, as they can be used in many ways as a delicate flavoring agent. The economic importance of the mushroom is mainly used as food for human consumption. It contains most of the necessary mineral salts..