Ecofriendly Mushroom Cultivation

A mushroom is the reproductive structure which is produced by certain fungi, its edible part is fleshy fruiting bodies which may be collected naturally or can be cultivated under c l ima t e -cont rol l ed conditions. White button mushroom (Agaricu sbisporus) is most commonly cultivated species. The fungal inoculums called ‘spawn’ (seeds of mushroom) are added to a pasteurized substrate in growing container. The fruiting bodies begin appearing about 6 weeks after spawning and continue appearing in flushes about 7-10 days apart for the next 6-8 weeks. About one dozen mushroom species are commercially grown in the world but in Haryana state mainly two species are cultivated which are grown at commercial level.