Studies on Casing Material For Production of Milky Mushroom

Abstract

India has a varied agro-climate, abundance of agro-wastes, relatively low-cost labour and a rich fungal biodiversity. These factors are able to make India as a potential major producer of mushroom. Two strains of Calocybe indi~a viz. APK-2 and Cl-9 were evaluated to study the colony characters, sporophore characters and yield performance in various casing combinations and substrate heights. Fluffy growth was observed in both the strains i.e. APK-2 and Cl-9 with even margins. The colony colour of APK-2 differs from milky white with white in strain Cl-9. Maximum pileus breadth and weight (6.56 em & 27.35 g/button) was found in strain APK-2. Longer stipe was found in strain APK-2, 1 0.14 em with stipe weight 18.78 g/button while in strain Cl-9 stipe was observed of 6.32 em and stipe weight 17.38 g/button. Maximum radial mycelia· growth, 89.33 mm & 87.00 mm was found in media Malt Extract Agar (MEA) of strain APK-2 and Cl-9, respectively which was followed by Potato Dextrose Agar Media (PDA). Supplementation of potassium sulphate resulted in the maximum radial mycelia growth of strain APK-2 89.66 mm and Cl-9 85.66 mm followed by magnesium sulphate supplementation. Sugar supplements also found significantly effective to increase the growth as addition of maltose (1%) in MEA media resulted in maximum radial growth 90.00 mm with strain APK-2 and 88.00 mm with strain Cl-9 over control. Casing ratio of Farm Yard Manure: Garden Soil: Vermi-compost (3:2:1, 3:2:2, 3:2:3) produce significant results. Minimum days for pinhead formation, fi,rst harvesting was observed when casing mixture consisting of 3:2:1 ratio was applied, with maximum number of pinhead initiation in both strains (APK-2 & Cl-9). Casing ratio 3:2:3 gave significantly better yield and number of fruiting bodies over other casing ratio applied. Casing thickness of 1.25 em/ 500 gm resulted in significantly best in terms of days for first harvesting, number of pinhead initiation & fruiting bodies and yield (g/kg dry substrate) as well as biological efficiency over all the casing thickness applied. Bed height of 29 em produce maximum yield with maximum biological efficiency but days for first harvesting was found earliest in bed height of 26 em and days for spawn run was minimum in bed height of 20 em in both strains.