| Introduction |
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Volvariella volvacea Sing., the straw mushroom,
or paddy straw mushroom is the most popular mushroom in Southeast Asia. . V.diplasia is
white while V.Volvacea is blackish. V.bombycina differs from the cultivated V.volvacea in
terms of habitat as well as colour. |
| Area and distribution |
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The cultivation started in China almost three
hundred years ago. Several species of Volvariella have been grown for food. V.bombycina
Sing. And V.diplasia (Berk & Br.) Sing, have been cultivated in India. |
Method of cultivation |
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Volvariella volvacea thrives in a temperature
range of 28 to 360 C and relative humidity of 75-85% is required. In a modified
method of cultivation bundled substrates (rice straw, banana leaves or water hyacinth),
prepared in the same way as those used for beds, are soaked in water, drained, then packed
(layered) in the wooden frames. Spawn is mixed in with each layer as the frame is packed
or filled. The spawned substrate in the boxes may be placed in a specially built
incubation room with a high temperature (35 to 380 C) and high relative
humidity (at least 75%), or it may be covered with plastic sheets and placed under shade
outdoors. |
Pasteurization |
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For pasteurization, live steam (pressurized and
over 1000 C) is introduced into the mushroom house. Within 2 hours, the air
temperature e rises to about 60 to 620 C, which is maintained for another 2
hours. The temperature is then gradually lowered to about to about 520 C by a
gentle stream of fresh air. The temperature during the next 8 hours is maintained at 50 TO
520 C by a continuous fresh air supply. |
Compost preparation |
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It should contain the necessary nutrients,
released from the raw compost materials during fermentation. Through composting, a mixture
of rich organic materials is converted into a selective medium suitable for the growth of
the desired mushroom but less suitable for competing organisms. After the Two stages of
fermentation, the compost becomes a selective substrate. |
Spawning |
|
For spawning, the air temperature is cooled to
350C and the bed temperature to about 36 to 380 C The amount of
spawn to be used is calculated at 1.4% (dry weight) or (wet weight) of the compost. |
Crop management after spawning |
|
The optimum temperature for growth of Pleurotus
spp. is 23 + - 20 C. Relative humidity in growing room should range from 85-90%
during spawn-run. |
Harvesting |
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On fifth day after spawning, mushroom primordia
usually appear on the surface of the beds. Four to five days later, the first flush of
mushroom is ready for harvest. The first crop of mushroom is usually harvested 10 days
after planting the spawn. Volvariella is best harvested at the button (egg-shaped) stage
when the volva or the universal veil has not broken. In general, rice straw alone gives
lower yields than when it is used in combination with cotton waste. Rice straw is also
more prone to a mushroom contaminant called Coprinus, which thrives at a slightly higher
temperature (400 C) the Vovlariella. Coprinus popularly called ink caps, also
has a higher nitrogen substances so that, when the substrate is supplemented with nitrogen
substances such as urea,coprinus out compete Vovlariella. A yield for outdoor beds ranges
form 10 to 20% B.E. while indoor beds of cotton waste may yield as high as 50% B.E.
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