Abstract

YIELD POTENTIAL OF MILKY MUSHROOM – CALOCYBE INDICA (APK-2) WITH RESPECT TO VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL WASTES

S. Selvaraju*, M. Vasanth, R. Muralidharan and R. Raja Rajan

Abstract

Mushrooms belong to a group of fleshy macroscopic fungi (Class: Basidiomycetes) and many of them are treated as incredibly popular food in most countries including India. Mushrooms have become an appropriate replacement for non-vegetarian food. The Milky mushroom - Calocybe indica, widely known as white vegetable is the most commonly cultivated mushroom. It is grown at high temperatures, during summer season in India. As any other plant, it is susceptible to a variety of Viral, Bacterial and Fungal diseases. However, it has a superior shelf life, as compared to other edible fungi and it can be transported to long distances for marketing without any damage to its quality. The aim of this study was to find out the efficiency of different substrates (Paddy straw, Sugar cane bagasse, Coconut coir & Banana leaves) in proportion to its growth and yield with respect to the cultivation of the milky mushroom. Among the four different treated substrates, paddy straw was the most favourable substrate for cultivation of Milky mushroom.

Keywords: Fungi, Basidiomycetes, Calocybe indica, Substrates, Cultivation.