About Cultivation of white mushroom

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The milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) is a robust, fleshy, milky white, umbrella like
mushroom resembling button mushroom. This species can be cultivated indoor in the areas of
high temperature range of 25-35°C and high relative humidity of more than 80% is suitable for
its cultivation. The temperature and relative humidity Milky mushroom can be cultivated
throughout the year in the plains of India because of high temperature tolerance.
The cultivation technology of this mushroom is simple, requiring low production inputs
and does not require any special compost as in the case of white button mushroom. The
cultivation process is a mixture of cultivation technology of button and oyster mushroom. It
requires wetting of substrates like oyster mushroom and casing like button mushroom. The
mushroom can be harvested from 28-30 days after spawning and the total crop cycle is of 45-50
days. The milky mushroom has higher shelf life as compared to button mushroom. Due to good
shelf life, it is more convenient in handling, transport and storage. Therefore, the interest among
the mushroom growers towards milky mushroom is growing day by day. The production
technology of milky mushroom is as follows:
Pasteurization / Sterilization of the Substrate
Milky mushroom can be cultivated on a wide range of substrates like paddy straw, maize
stalks, sorghum stalks, bajra stalks, sugarcane baggage, soybean hay, groundnut haulms, etc.
However, for commercial production paddy straw is the best suited substrate. Generally, chaffed
paddy straw bits of 3-5 cm or 1-2 inch length is soaked in normal water containing 750 ppm
carbendazim and 1% formalin for 14-16 hours. The soaked paddy straw is taken out from water
and spread over the floor or on the polythene sheet to drain the excess water. However, for
proper sterilization, hot water treatment of straw bits for 30-45 minutes in boiling water in a
drum is done. The hot water treatment is better and safe method of sterilization than chemical
sterilization. After treatment, the substrate is shade dried to remove excess moisture before
bagging. At the time of bagging the substrate should contain around 60-65% moisture. Excessive
moisture level increases the chance of bacterial and other contaminations.
Bagging
Polythene bags of the size 1824 inch size of 150 gauge thickness are generally used for
bagging. Spawned straw is filled up to two-third into the polythene bags of 18 x 24 inch size of 150
gauge thickness. Two small holes are made on both the corners at the bottom of the polythene bags to

2. allow leaching of excess water. A few small holes of 0.5cm diameter are also made on all sides. Use of
non-perforated poly bags accumulate high carbon dioxide which is inhibitory to fruiting. The polythene
bags filled are then tied at its open end with a thread and kept on the shelves of the racks. Bagging is
done following layer method of spawning, in which 10 inch layer of straw is laid and spawn is
sprinkled over the filled straw around the peripheral region. Similarly three layers of 5 inch each
of processed straw is filled and spawned as above, followed by a 5 inch layer of processed straw
to cover the spawn and the mouth of bag is tied tightly with the rubber band. Every time before
spawning, the straw is pressed with hand for making it compact. The bags thus prepared are
incubated for spawn running under semi-dark condition in a clean room. Spawn run is completed
in 12-15 days at 30-35°C.
Casing
Milky mushroom production involves an additional process called casing like white
button mushroom. After the completion of spawn run, the bags are opened for casing. Casing soil
is applied on the top to a height of 1-2 inches. The casing soil is prepared by using two years old
FYM mixed with coarse sand in equal proportion or garden soil mixed with coarse sand in 4:1
ratio. Casing soil must be sterilized. This can be done by chemical means with formaldehyde.
For ½ cubic meter of casing soil, 1½ liters of formalin (40%) in two buckets of water is
sufficient. Casing soil should be treated 10-15 days before use. The treated soil should be
covered with tarpaulin or polythene sheet completely for 48 hours so that disinfection is
effective.
Cropping
After casing, the bags are kept in racks in the cropping room. Optimum relative humidity
of 80-95% and temperature of 24-28°C is to be maintained in the cropping room. Proper
ventilation for gaseous exchange is also essential in the room. The beds are regularly sprayed
with water to maintain 50-60% moisture level on the casing surface. Pinheads appear in 8-10
days after casing and the first harvest can be taken in 6-8 days after pinhead formation. After
obtaining the casing medium is slightly compacted at the sites from where the fruit bodies are
harvested. Second and third harvest may be obtained within 45-50 days of bed preparation.
Yield
The biological efficiency of Calocybe indica ranges from 80-90%. The mushroom is
highly suitable for drying, canning, soup powder preparation and pickle making.