Dr. Itisha Ghalawat / DrItisha Ghalawat
Mushroom growing is one of the fastest growing and most technologically sophisticated horticultural industries in the world. More than sixty genera are commercially produced throughout the world as food. Amongst these, three species of edible mushroom, white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella spp.) and oyster mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) are commercially grown in India. The button mushroom Agaricus bisporus has a long history of cultivation of more than 300 years, and the first commercial cultivation has been reported in France in the 18th century. Edible mushrooms are the fleshy fruiting bodies of fungi, which may be gathered wild or grown under cultivation. Cultivated mushrooms are usually grown in the dark and climate-controlled rooms. The significant feature of mushroom growing is that it is cultivated entirely on waste product and converts a wide spectrum of agricultural and industrial waste into consumable products. After harvesting the mushroom, the solid residues act as organic compost which contains natural nutrients and further enrich the soil.
