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Question
Write in proper sequence the five major steps in the cultivation of the common edible mushrooms.
Solution
Major steps in the cultivation of common edible mushrooms:
(1) Composting: Composting involves mixing various components such as wheat or paddy straw, chicken manure and organic and inorganic fertilizers in a fixed proportion. The temperature of the compost is maintained at around 50C. The compost is kept undisturbed for about one week.
(2) Spawning: 'Mushroom seed' in the form of mycelium of mushroom to be grown is introduced into the heap of compost and left for spreading for around two days.
(3) Casing: Casing is the most important step in mushroom cultivation. It involves the spreading of a thin layer of soil over the compost. This provides humidity and support to the mushroom. It also serves to prevent the desiccation of the compost heap and helps in temperature regulation at around 20C-25C to forbid the growth of pests and diseases. The provision for circulating air around the compost bed should also be made.
(4) Cropping and harvesting: Three major growth stages are observed before mushrooms attain a fully grown form. Firstly, the mycelium, i.e. a network of fibrous mass, spreads out in 2 to 6 weeks, followed by the tiny pin head stage and finally the button stage, which is marked by an increase in the mushroom size, until it acquires marketable size.
(5) Preservation: Mushrooms have a very short shelf-life. Processes such as vacuum cooling, bombardment by gamma radiation, followed by storage at 15C, freeze drying in a solution of citric acid, ascorbic acid and brine, etc. are used for the preservation of mushrooms.
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