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MUSHROOM BIOTECH JALPAIGURI has the largest Tropical Mushroom Spawn Production unit in the Country at Jalpaiguri since, 1995.
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What Is Mushroom?
MUSHROOMS are one of the most intriguing organisms in the living world.
Mushrooms are usually defined as the edible, spore-producing bodies of some FUNGI.
They come in many varied shapes and in many colors. Mushroom comes under lower group of plants- FUNGI. It is the first food nature ever produced. It’s cultivation is not dependent on the nature and quality of the land. It is cultivated indoors under artificial environment and strict hygiene. Using aerial space, mushroom cultivation multiplies the cultivable floor and thereby produces highest amount of protein per unit area compare to any other agricultural or animal husbandry projects.
Why Mushroom?
Mushrooms – will be the best alternative vegetable for the mankind in near future.
Mushroom – the No-Pollutant, Environmental-Friendly, Green-Industry.
During the recent years emphasis is being given on propagation of mushroom cultivation primarily because agricultural wastes like wheat and paddy straw which are available in abundance in the rural areas could be utilized as the basic raw material for growing mushrooms.
Collection of food from nature dates back to history. Even to-day parallel to food production, people are engaged to collection and discovery of new sources of food. Best of such new sources of food is supposed to be the mushrooms which grows naturally on organic wastes, which has no compare of taste and nutritional value.
Though initially Mushrooms were collected from nature, at present due to efforts of scientists, it is possible to cultivate Mushrooms artificially. At present Mushroom cultivation is easy. In our country the environmental condition climate and temperature are very suitable for cultivation of different types of Mushrooms all-round the year.
Demand for proteinaceous food is rapidly increasing along with expanding human populations throughout the world. The field of Mushrooms has opened up a new possibility of exploring resources of nutritious and delicious food. Edible Mushrooms is no doubt a better source of vegetable protein despite the fact that only 60-70% to world’s protein supply will be most significant if they are properly utilized. Each and every country is earnestly trying to implement the Mushroom improvement programme to solve the challenging food problem and hence Mushroom cultivation has recently occupied a unique position in several countries, a large number of wild edible Mushrooms are also being consumed by the local people and sometimes being exported to other countries.
The digestibility of mushroom protein ranges between 60-70%.Comparatively food values of dry mushroom shows its superiority with other common protein foods.
Besides the above nutritional aspects, the medicinal importance of mushrooms is noteworthy.
What is Mushroom Spawn?
In a layman’s term it can be called as mushroom seed. Technically it is a pure culture of mushroom fungus produced under aseptic conditions in a laboratory. The thread like hypha develops from a mycelial net on inoculation on suitable media as the seeding material for culturing of mushroom.
Characteristics of Good Spawn:
- It is vitally important that mushroom spawn should be prepared from pure mushroom mycelium.
- The spawn should be free from diseases, competitors and pests.
- Mycelium coating should be there on each grain.
- The spawn should be fresh when it is used.
- It can be stored for 5-7 days after it is ready.
What Are The Raw Materials Required for Mushroom Cultivation?
The raw materials for mushroom cultivation are wheat/paddy-straw. This material is available in abundance in every rural part of our country. Recycled for mushroom cultivation it produces protein rich food as well as very good compost manure for agricultural use.
During the recent years emphasis is being given on propagation of mushroom cultivation primarily because agricultural wastes like wheat and paddy straw which are available in abundance in the rural areas could be utilized as the basic raw material for growing mushrooms.
What Are The Chemicals Required for Mushroom Cultivation?
Much chemical is not required for mushroom cultivation. Some of them are, fresh lime, paris powder, carbendazim, etc.
What is the Importance of Mushrooms?
- Alternate Source of Economy.
- Raw materials for mushroom cultivation are easily and in abundance available in rural areas. The village people, the women, unemployed can engage to production in spare time.
- By mushroom cultivation the agricultural waste of the area can be transformed to a vegetable of international quality. While a part can be consumed as a source of nutrition, a excess part can be sold to add to the family earning.
- For mushroom production no land is required as it is cultivated indoors. It does not require any fertilisers or any costly inputs and thereby can be adopted by the landless or marginal farmers.
- It is seen that if a village women produces a bag of Mushroom daily, she can earn approximately Rs. 600.00 per month and an un-employed person if cultivates 5 bags of Mushroom daily , can earn approximately Rs. 3000.00 per month.
- It is a low investment project with the raw materials being available locally.
Alternate Source of Nutrition:
- The quality of nutrition among rural people is rich in cereals i.e. carbohydrates and definitely lacks the proteins, vitamins, minerals, as well as essential-amino acids. Due to which the health of the rural people, especially women and children is below standard. This leads to several diseases and deficiency syndromes.
- Mushrooms can be grown in houses, without much effort, investments. Raw materials are locally available as agricultural wastes. These waste materials by mushroom cultivation can be transformed to a very rich quality food with proteins, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids.
- By regular consumption of self-produced Mushrooms a village family can add quality to his meals. Thus mushrooms can be easily established as a very rich alternate source of nutrition.
What Do You Know About Nutritional Importance of Mushroom?
| Mushroom Contains: | Protein | 2.78 – 3.94%, |
| Carbohydrate | 5.3 – 6.28% | |
| Fat | 0.25 -0.65%, | |
| Energy Value | 24.4-34.4 KCal. | |
| Essential Amino Acids | Phenylalanine, Histidine,Leucine,Lysine, Arginine, Tryptophan, Threonine, Valine, Isoleucine. | |
| Vitamins | K, B1, B2 , B3, H,C,D,E. | |
| Minerals | Phosphorous, Potassium, Iron, Calcium. |
Medicinal Importance of Mushrooms:Besides the nutritional aspects, the medicinal importance of mushrooms is noteworthy.
| 1. | Carbohydrates of Mushrooms do not contain starch and sucrose is present in very small quantity, so it is a good food for diabetic patients. |
| 2. | Many vegetables and cereals are deficient in some of the essential Amino acids but Mushroom protein contains adequate quantities of most of the essential Amino acids compared to egg protein (which is supposed to be a standard complete protein), so it will help in overcoming Amino acid deficiency. |
| 3. | The Mushroom protein is easily digestible and its quality is intermediate between vegetable and meat protein. |
| 4. | Mushroom can recover vitamin deficiency (particularly vitamin B) and it is good source of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5 and H. |
| 5. | 5. Besides being eaten as delicious food, a refreshing drink has been developed with dilute extract of Mushrooms. One Folk remedy handed down from the past – brewing and drinking a broth form a certain member of sarunoko, Shiitake strain – is said to have an anti-cancer effect. |
| 6. | Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) Mushrooms which is produced by Japanese in a great amount has anti-cancerous property and it also reduces the cholesterol contain in the blood. |
| 7. | From Volvariella cardio toxic proteins have been isolated. They lower the Blood pressure and are also active against tumour cells. Anti cancerous extracts of Shiitake causes recession of some kind of cancer and inhibits the growth of some virus, like Influenza virus. |
| 8. | As Mushroom contains low sodium, it is a suitable food for persons with Nephritis (kidney disease) and heart diseases. |
| 9. | Mushroom forms interferon in human body which immunizes the body from viral disease and protects the body from attack by polio and influenza virus. |
| 10. | Calcium of Mushroom develops healthy bones and teeth. It also contains Vitamin D2 without which calcium absorption is not possible. |
| 11. | Mushrooms are rich in Niacin and Ascorbic acid and prevent Pellagra, Scurvy and various types of skin diseases .Anti-dandruff lotion has been prepared from Pleurotus sajor-caju. |
| 12. | The sodium and Potassium present help in controlling nerve co-ordination and ultra filtration in kidney. |
| 13. | Mushroom is rich in vegetable fibers, it is a good roughage diet. |
| 14. | As Mushroom contains low calorie, it is extensively used as sliming food. |
| 15. | One poly-saccharide substance extracted from kawaratake and shiitake mushrooms is being used as anti-cancer clinical drug at a number of hospitals, including theNational Cancer Centre in Japan. At the academic meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan held in March 1992, it was reported that Glucan contained in maiitake Mushrooms enhances the immunity of cells infected with AIDS virus. |
Current Biomedical Application of MUSHROOMS are:
[Cheng and Miles (1996)]
| A. | Cosmonaut Training in Russia |
| B. | Use with Conventional Therapy in Cancer |
| C. | Cardiovascular Disorders |
| D. | Immunomodulatory Effects |
| E. | Use during remission of Cancer and Hepatitis B treatment |
| F. | Increase in Oxygen Utilization |
| G. | Anti-Ageing |
Why is Processing of Mushroom Essential? How Can Mushroom Be Preserved?
For any type of manufacturing industry or agricultural farm, marketing of the produced material is one of the most initial factor, directly influencing all other business activities. Without a regular sale of the product at a reasonable price it is not possible for any unit to flourish or to survive even, in the long run. Therefore all necessary relevant information about the market situation of the product in concern must be ready at hand before the production resumed.
Mushroom is primarily an agricultural product, rich in proteins and it is highly perishable in nature. Like all other vegetables it can be sold fresh in the market. However, various scientific techniques have been introduced to preserve the fresh mushroom. Most popular method of preserving fresh oyster mushroom is mechanically dehydrating the product which has got shelf life of nearly two years. Besides, mushrooms can be processed to soup powder, pickles, dehydrated, curry powder, biscuits, sauce, noodles etc. all these products are prized value to various sections of the people. The processed foods are already marketed in the city markets by small and big entrepreneurs and the demand increasing.
What is The Standard Size of a Mushroom Cultivation Shed?
Mushroom can be cultivated in any type of well ventilated, clean room. For viable commercial cultivation, the size of the room can be 20’ X 70’.
Define Mushroom Spawn. Describe in Brief, Spawn Production Method
Mushroom Spawn:
In a layman’s term it can be called as mushroom seed. Technically it is a pure culture of mushroom fungus produced under aseptic conditions in a laboratory. The thread like hypha develops from a mycelial net on inoculation in suitable media as the seeding material for culturing of mushroom.
Spawn Production:
Usually spawn is produced by raising pure culture. There are two types of pure cultures:
- Tissue Culture
- Spore Culture.
Spore Culture:
- Single Spore Culture
- Multi-Spore Culture
Tissue culture is the only method followed for commercial production of spawn. Multiplication of material by cell or tissue is known as tissue culture. This requires preparation of medium to raise pure culture of mycelium. Medium is prepared using Potato Dextrose and Agar. It is filled in culture tubes plugged with N. A. Cotton and sterilized in pressure cooker at 15 lb/sq. inch pressure and 121 degree C temperature for 20 minutes. Small pieces of mushroom culture from mother culture are placed in the medium under aseptic condition. This will be kept for 15-20 days at 25 degree C for mycelium growth which is called pure culture. Next, liquid broth medium is prepared using Potato and Dextrose. It is filled in conical flasks, plugged with N. A. Cotton, Sterilized at 15 lb pressure and 121 degree C temperature in autoclave. On cooling, small pieces of pure cultures are inoculated from the culture tubes to the PD Broth medium under aseptic condition. This is kept at 25 degree C for 10-12 days incubation when the mycelium grows in it, this gives PD Broth culture medium.
Preparation of Commercial Spawn:
Wheat grains which should not be very old or broken are cooked till – “before splitting” stage. These cooked grains are spread on polythene sheets to cool to room temperature. Calcium Sulphate powder at the rate of 5 gm. per kg. dry weight of grain and Calcium Carbonate powder at the rate of 15 gm. per kg. Dry weight of grain are mixed thoroughly and filled into double p. p. packets [200 gms each] and plugged with non-absorbent cotton. The grain filled packets are then sterilized keeping in pressure cooker at 15 lb/sq. inch pressure and 121 degree C temp. for 40 minutes. They are re-sterilized after 24 hours for 40 minutes, and then cooled to room temperature. After sterilization, the packets are inoculated with culture from the broth culture medium with @5 ml per packet and incubated at 25 degree C for about 15-20 days in which time the mycelium grows over the grains. This is called Spawn.
How Will You Construct a Mushroom Cultivation Shed?
Low cost Mushroom cultivation sheds for mushroom cultivation can be made, with bamboo and bamboo mats. It should be kept in mind that the room should be well ventilated and in a clean and hygienic place.
How To Cultivate Mushrooms Easily?
Using this method, you can produce mushrooms easily. Here’s how:
- Take 2 kgs of straw per packet [200 gms] of mushroom spawn [seeds], cut straw in small pieces.
- Soak the straw in clean water for 2 hours. Add hot water if possible. Drain off the water in a clean basket.
- Take a polypropylene bag; tie a knot at the bottom.
- Fill in the bag with straw and spawn in alternate layers.
- Tie at the top and make 100-150 pin holes at the side.
- Hang the bag at some cool shady place.
- Water daily with a mug of water.
- See mushrooms sprouting within 25 days.
- Cook the delicious vegetable. (Continue watering for further flushes of mushrooms.)
- Use the spent straw in your flower tub as good compost fertilizer.
Organic Oyster Mushrooms - A New Method
The demand for organic mushrooms is on the rise. People are cautious about the quality of food and its method of production or cultivation. The use of inorganic insecticides, pesticides or fertilizers during cultivation results, accumulation in food materials. The resident effect of the chemicals often gets bio-magnified and has detrimental effect on health. Effort is going on for cultivation practices without the use of inorganic materials and thus producing safe organic food materials.
Mushrooms cultivated in tropical country are prone to attack by insect pests, fungal or bacterial contaminant. To prevent or curve the diseases caused, several insecticides, fungicides are regularly used in mushroom farms. These chemicals are sprayed regularly in the cultivation rooms, as well as used to treat the substrate used for cultivation. After spawning the substrate is kept on trays, polypropylene bags, trays, nylon net bags or even on soil beds. During inoculation the straw is kept covered, but after mycelial run is complete, it is exposed and watering is necessary for pinhead formation and mushroom development.
If chemicals are not added while treatment of straw and before spawning, several insect pests infects the medium from outside and inside. Fungal contaminants with earlier growth infect the medium. This infection is more through the pores left for aeration. Thus a need arose to select such a process where organic mushrooms can be developed.
The straw used as medium was sterilized by steaming for 11/2 hour, which in evitable kills all the microbes and insects and their eggs.
This medium with spawn is filled in plastic containers of 6″ height and 3″ diameter. At the lid a 11/2“circular hole is drilled. After filling the container, it is covered with cotton and the lid is closed. Each such container contains approximately 300 gms. of dry straw.
Within 14-15 days, spawn run will be complete. During this time watering on the cotton pad once a day is necessary. After that more watering may be essential, according to the ambient humidity and temperature. Pin heads appear in bunches on the cotton pad, which develops to mushrooms. Approximately 300 gms. to 450 gms of mushrooms develop on each container within 30 days. The containers can be washed and replaced.
As no chemical treatment of straw is done nor any chemical is sprayed, the mushroom thus produced is purely organic and with greater demand in the market.