Evaluation of Yield of Different Strains of Calocybe indica (Milky White Mushroom) under Bihar Conditions
Ram Prawesh Prasad
*
Advance Centre of Mushroom Research, RPPCAU, Pusa, India.
Bhagshali Patle
Department of Plant Pathology & Nematology, PGCA, RPCAU, Pusa, India.
Dayaram
Advance Centre of Mushroom Research, RPPCAU, Pusa, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Mushroom cultivation is a low-cost enterprise that can utilise agricultural wastes while providing income and nutritional support to rural communities. The milky white mushroom, Calocybe indica, is suitable for warm regions because it grows at relatively high temperatures and can utilise lignocellulosic substrates. The present study evaluated six strains of C. indica, namely Ci-24-201, Ci-24-202, Ci-24-203, Ci-24-204, Ci-24-205 and Ci-24-206, under the agro-climatic conditions of Bihar. The experiment was conducted at the Mushroom House and Mushroom Research Unit, Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa. Pure cultures were maintained on potato dextrose agar slants and multiplied on wheat grain spawn. Wheat straw was used as the cultivation substrate. Spawned bags were incubated under dark conditions at 30-35 °C and 85-90% relative humidity, followed by casing with a farmyard manure and garden soil mixture. Observations were recorded for spawn run, days to first harvest after casing, average fruit body weight, yield and biological efficiency, and the data were analysed using a completely randomised design. Among the six strains, Ci-24-206 completed spawn run in the shortest period (19.16 days) and recorded the highest biological efficiency (65.14%). Ci-24-203 produced the highest average fruit body weight (75.41 g) and required the shortest period for first harvest after casing (31.94 days). Ci-24-205 showed the lowest biological efficiency (14.49%) and the lowest average fruit body weight (32.03 g). The findings indicate appreciable strain variability in the growth and yield attributes of C. indica under Bihar conditions, with Ci-24-206 showing superior biological efficiency on wheat straw substrate.
Keywords: Calocybe indica, milky mushroom, biological efficiency, spawn run, wheat straw, fruit body weight, lignocellulosic substrate, mushroom cultivation.