Yield values, diameters and numbers of fruit bodies obtained from the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms, were determined and the effects of different substrate combinations on productivity were investigated. Wastes of some lignocellulosic materials such as leaves of hazelnut (LH), leaves of tilia (LT) and leaves of European aspen (LEA), wheat straw (WS), sawdust (S) waste paper (WP) were used for producing P. ostreatus. The best main material and the best substrate combination for mushroom productivity were WS and WS + WP (50% + 50%), respectively. Mixtures which involve WP generally produced higher yield values when compared to the other combinations. Mixtures which contained bran (25%) increased the risk of contamination. The lowest yield and the smallest fruit body diameters, values were obtained from LT (100%) and LEA + S (50% + 50%). The greatest number of fruit body was obtained in the combination WS + LH + WP (30% + 50% + 20%). The largest diameter of fruit body was obtained from OT (100%), even though few fruit bodies were observed. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.