White button mushroom (Agaricus bisporous) and paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella) the two varieties of edible mushrooms.
Five major steps in cultivation of the common edible mushroom are as below:
1. Composting: The compost is prepared by mixing the following in certain proportions.
• Wheat or paddy straw,
• Chicken manure
• Some organic and inorganic fertilizer This compost is kept at about 50°C for a week.
2. Spawning: “mushroom seed” consisting of mycelium of the selected type of mushroom is introduced into the compost, and allowed to spread for a couple of days.
3. Casting: A thin layer of soil is spread over the compost to give support to the mushroom and provide humidity. It also prevents quick drying of the compost and helps to regulate temperature.
4. Cropping and Harvesting: The growth occurs in three stages:
(a) Mycelium (a network of fibrous mass) grows within 2 to 6 weeks.
(b) Tiny pin heads.
(c) Button stage which grows bigger attaining marketable size. The full grown mushrooms are taken out.
5. Preservation: Mushrooms are highly perishable. Their shelf life is increased by a variety of processes
(a) Vacuum cooling
(b) Giving gamma radiation and storing at 15°C
(c) Freeze drying in a solution of citric acid, ascorbic acid and brine, etc.
