Availability of edible mushrooms in Ayodhyadham, India.

INTRODUCTION

A mushroom is a macro fungus with a distinctive fruit bodies which can either epigeous (above ground) or hypogeous (under ground) and large above to be seen with a naked eye and to be picked by hand. The most common type of mushroom is umbrella shaped with pileus (cap) and stipe (stem). Some species additionally have annulus / ring or volva or both. They provides a rich addition to the diet in terms of protein, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. They also have medicinal properties, therefore, they can be considered as a functional food (medicinal and nutritive food). They contain a high proportion of unsaturated fat. In addition to nutritional value, mushrooms have some unique colour, taste, aroma and texture characteristics. Edible mushrooms include many fungal species that are either harvested wild or artificially cultivated. In the present study,  extensive surveys were made to evaluate the availability of edible mushrooms in the market of Ayodhyadham.

RESULTS

A total of nine mushrooms species were utilized in form of food. Among the commercially cultivated mushrooms, only button mushroom Agaricus bisporus appeared in the market throughout the year, notably during winter season, due to various seasonal growing units. During this period, its consumption and production were at the peak. Canned  button mushroom is also available in limited quantity.

 

 Fresh Button mushrooms with vegetable venders

 

 

                  Canned Button mushroom

   

Apart from this, various Pleurotus species including P. citrinopileatus, P. eous, P. eryngii, P. florida, P. sajor-caju and one elm oyster mushroom Hysizygus ulmarius and a summer mushroom Calocybe indica were also accessible in limited quantities at particular shops. These exotic mushrooms were seasonally grown by Sri Pyare Lal agro Products in Ayodhyadham.

 

Mushroom bags in Sri Pyare Lal Agro Products

Termitomyces globules, T. heimii, T. microcarpus, T. fuliginosus, Macrolepiota procera, and Astraeus hygrometricus were among the popular wild mushroom species spotted on moving stalls during the rainy season, brought usually by mushroom hunters from Tikri Reserved Forest. 

 

Macrolepiota procera and Astraeus hygrometricus in moving stall

 

A mushroom hunter Mr Pal gathered two Volvariella species including V. volvacea and V. indica, from various outside villages and delivered them door to door depending on availability. A warm climate wild button mushroom Agaricus bitorquis was relatively uncommon among people, with only 4-5 families eating it. 

Wild button mushroom Agaricus bitorquis

CONCLUSION

Commercially cultivated button mushroom Agaricus bisporus is the most demanding mushroom in Ayodhya Dham. One explanation for this is the scarcity of wild mushrooms as well as people's unwillingness to exotic mushrooms.(PDF)

 

 

Cited this as: 

Siddhant, Mahesh Kumar and Shalini Mishra  (2021): Availability of edible mushrooms in Ayodhyadham, India. Ahi Evran International Conference on Scientific Research, Ahi Evran University, Kirşehir, Turkey. November 30- December 1-2, 2021. In: Abstract book edited by Prof. Dr. Ahmet KAZANKAYA. ISBN: 978-625-7464-54-3. p. 473.