This chapter introduces mushrooms as saprophytic fungi with a unique structure (mycelium and fruiting body) and a detailed life cycle involving spore reproduction. You will explore their nutritional and medicinal benefits, economic importance (farming and products), cultivation methods, storage techniques, and how to distinguish edible from poisonous varieties.
Introduction
Mushrooms are fungi (not plants) – no chlorophyll, so non-green and saprophytic (feed on dead/decaying matter). They grow in rainy season on soil, dung, tree barks. Some edible (Dalle, Parale, Kanye, Gobre), some poisonous. Mushroom farming is a good income source.
3.1 Structure of Mushroom
- Two parts: Mycelium (underground vegetative part – thread-like hyphae absorb water/food) and Fruiting body (above ground reproductive part).
- Fruiting body: Stalk (stipe), umbrella cap (pileus), gills (under pileus with basidiospores).
3.2 Life Cycle of Mushroom
- Gills have 3 layers: Trama, sub-hymenium, hymenium (with basidium + paraphysis).
- Basidium: 2 haploid nuclei fuse → diploid → meiosis → 4 haploid nuclei → basidiospores (2 + strain, 2 - strain) on sterigmata.
- Spores germinate → primary mycelium (haploid) → fuse (opposite strains) → secondary dikaryotic mycelium → mushroom → cycle repeats.
3.3 Uses of Mushroom
- Health: High protein (19-35% dry weight), vitamins (B1, B2, B12, niacin), minerals (K, Na, P, Ca, Fe, Cu). Low fat/cholesterol. Good for diabetes, BP, cancer, asthma (e.g., red mushroom medicine). WHO recommends it.
- Economic: Farming profitable. Guchi chyau (Morchella) expensive ($500/kg). Products: Sukuti, pickle, ketchup, soup.
3.4 Mushroom Farming (Kanya Chyau in Hay)
- Steps: Cut hay 1-3 inches, boil 15-20 min, dry, layer in plastic bag with seeds (5-6 layers, 8-10" high), poke holes, keep dark 7 days → white fibers, add water, harvest at 25 days.
3.5 Storage and Use
- Drying: Wash, cut, boil, dry (sun/fire/oven), pack airtight.
- Chemical drying: Soak in K-bisulphite + citric acid + sugar + salt, dry 60-62°C.
- Sun drying: 25-45°C, store 120 days.
3.6 Edible vs Poisonous Mushroom
- Edible: Certified/safe (don't eat wild unknown).
- Poisonous signs: Light gray, white gills, volva at base, red stalk/pileus, smooth pileus (no insects), yellow secretion. Lab test needed. Many deaths yearly from wild ones – be careful!