Optimization of Mass Multiplication Media for Mycelial Growth and Grains for Spawn Production

Mushrooms are classified as Fungi, and the name "mushroom" refers to large, fleshy fungi. Mushrooms are large reproductive structures of edible saprophytic fungi. these belong to the Ascomycetes or Basidiomycetes class of fungi. For Commercial production milky mushrooms (Calocybe indica) are the third most often cultivated mushrooms in subcontinent after button and oyster. The present study was conducted to evaluate the best growing media and grain for the preparation of culture and spawn of milky mushrooms. Three growing Media (PDA, Malt Extract Agar, and Czapex) were used for the evolution of growing media for milky mushroom culture growth. Growing Media were used as treatment T1 (Potato Dextrose Agar), T2 (Malt Extract Agar) and T3 (Czapex Dox Agar). To understand the effective dose and responsive treatment for cultural growth this research was done and results were observed after 4th, 7th and 10th day. PDA showed significant results for the cultural growth of milky mushroom. Moreover, three grains viz. Wheat Grains Substrate (WGS), Barley Grains Substrate (BGS) and Oat Grain Substrate (OGS) were evaluated for mycelial growth of milky mushroom resulted that the maximum mean value of mycelial growth was recorded in Wheat grains, while minimum mean value was recorded in Oat Grains on 7th, 14th and 21st day after incubation. It was concluded that PDA and wheat grains is the efficient media for mycelial growth of spawn of milky mushroom among the studied media and grains as per findings of current study. Keywords: Basidiomycetes, saprophytic fungi, mycelium, spawn, fruiting bodies, culture media.