Cultivating Edible Fungi

Book excerpt: Developments in Crop Science, 10: Cultivating Edible Fungi covers the proceedings of the International Symposium on Scientific and Technical Aspects of Cultivating Edible Fungi (IMS 86), held on July 15-17, 1986. The book focuses on the methodologies, processes, and technologies involved in the cultivation of edible fungi. The selection first offers information on antitumor activities of edible mushrooms by oral administration; variability of fluorescent Pseudomonas populations in composts and casing soils used for mushroom cultures; and influence of microorganisms and fungistasis on sporophore initiation in Agaricus brunnescens. The text then elaborates on the kratovirulence determinant of wood-decay fungi in transfer of mycelia to, and basidiocarp formation on, wooden raw substrates; spent compost as a carrier for bacterial inoculant production; and effects of growth regulator compounds on yield and size of Agaricus bisporus. The manuscript examines the effect of benomyl application and spawnmate supplementation on yield and size of selected genotypes of Pleurotus spp; changes in free amino acid content of the compost during growth and development of Agaricus bisporus; and basidiospore number variation in Agaricus. The book then takes a look at the integrated control of pests and diseases in mushroom cultivation; status of pests in the cultivated mushroom in India; and laboratory and cropping tests with cyromazine for mushroom sciarid control in mushroom compost. The selection is a dependable source of data for researchers interested in the cultivation of edible fungi.