Impact of different spawn substrates on yield of Calocybe indica

Abstract

Mushrooms have existed for millions of years and mankind has regarded them as a valuable food and at present, mushroom cultivation is the only economically viable biotechnology process where in waste materials or crop residues may be converted into valuable food. Paddy straw mushroom, Volvariella sp., and oyster mushroom, Pleurotus sp., could not perform better in the summer months because of their temperature preferences. Milky mushroom, Calocybe indica, with its ability to grow fairly at high temperatures with excellent shelf life seems to be the best alternative to such mushrooms. Due to this promising ability, an experiment was conducted to find the suitability of different grains as spawn substrates and their effect on yield parameters of C. indica. The results revealed the supremacy of sorghum grains as the most suitable substrate for early spawn run, which took only 13.7 days for hundred percent mycelial growth. The yield and number of buttons harvested were found maximum in the sorghum grain spawn followed by ragi grain spawn. The maize grain substrates took 19 days for complete spawn run and recorded low yield when compared to other spawn substrates. The days for pin head formation and first harvest of the crop were earlier in case of sorghum grain spawn followed by ragi spawn. Key words: Mushroom, Calocybe indica, spawn substrate, sorghum grain.