Medicinal values of mushrooms varies from species to species. In general Mushrooms are a source of bio active substances including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antitumour, antidiabetic activities.
It grows on little composted material during the hot season. The genus is characterised by the presence of a thick Volva. Paddy straw is the most common substrate for this mushroom but, it can also be cultivated on cotton waste, banana leaves, sugarcane baggase and pulses straw.
The Pleurotus Mushroom is generally known as oyster mushroom or dhingri in India. The fruit bodies of this mushroom are distinctly shell, fan or spatula shaped with different shades of white, cream, grey, yellow, pink or light brown depending upon the species. The oyster mushroom produces its protien rich fruiting body from various agro wastes without composting the substrate.
Shiitake Mushroom is one of the costliest mushrooms in the world. It is mainly grown in Japan and China. Being a hilly state and good amount of Oak trees available in our state Manipur, we should go for Shiitake cultivation for our own sustainability and income generation. Out of curiosity Kamal Mushrooms has started Shiitake cultivation on trial basis.