Abstract: Taking Pleurotus nebrodensis strain TN01 as test material.The effects of a new type of γ-polyglutamic acid-based composite water-retaining agent added to the cultivation material on the growth of Pleurotus nebrodensis were studied by determining the cultivation characteristics, water metabolism and degrading enzyme activity and other related indicators of Pleurotus nebrodensis,in order to provide reference for the application of γ-polyglutamic acid-based water-retaining agent in edible fungi.The results showed that adding γ-polyglutamic acid-based composite water-retaining agent could promote the mycelial growth, shorten the full bags and post-ripening period, and advance the primordium formation by 6-7 days.At the same time, the average single rod yield, biological conversion rate and water use efficiency were significantly improved.Compared with the control, after adding γ-polyglutamic acid-chitosan and the γ-polyglutamic acid-gelatin, the average single rod yield of Pleurotus nebrodensis increased by 103% and 79%,the water use efficiency increased by 102% and 78%,respectively.And adding of γ-polyglutamic acid-chitosan composite water-retaining agent could significantly reduce the pollution rate, up to 0.38%.