Processing of mushrooms: a viable option to sustain the growing population of the developing countries

Abstract

Mushrooms known as Ksumpain in Sanskrit and Khumbi or Kukurmutta in Hindi have been used by mankind as food and drug since time immemorial. They have also been mentioned in ourreligious scriptures such as the Vedas for their medicinal importance. Romans considered them to be the Foods of the Gods and the Chinese declared these to be the Elixir of life. All over the world around 20 genera of mushrooms are being cultivated for commerce, but in India, there are five mushroom species viz., white button mushroom (Agaricusbisporus), oyster (Pleurotus spp.), paddy straw (Volvariella volvacea), milky (Calocybe indica) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) are in commercial cultivation. Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus spp. And Volvariella volvacea mushrooms are contributing about 96% of total mushroom produced in India (Sharma et al, 2017). The need and greed to ensure the regular availability of mushrooms impelled the mankind to domesticate some of the most delicious mushrooms. It started with the domestication of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvaceae) and black ear mushroom (Auricularia polytrica) in China, but undoubtedly it was the introduction and cultivation of the common white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in the lime stone caves in France in late eighteenth century which can be truly termed as biggest milestone in the history of mushroom production. Since then more than 20types of edible and medicinal mushrooms have been domesticated and technologies have been improved to the commercial level. Cultivation of white button mushroom (A. bisporus) started in the 16th century. However, on a commercial scale, the cultivation was initiated in Europe around 17th century. In India, the white button mushroom was first cultivated in Solan in the year 1961 under project entitled “Development of mushroom cultivation in Himachal Pradesh” by the Department of Agriculture, H.P. in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The significance of white button mushrooms can be gauged from the fact that these contribute about 85% of the country’s production against its global share of about 31 per cent. However, an attempt has been made to discuss only those mushrooms which have considerable commercial importance.