Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of a group of plants called fungus which are scientifically classified under the order of Basidomyecets or Ascomycetes. These fungi grow saprophytically on dead organic matter or parasitically with other living matter. Wild mushrooms would have attracted human attention since time immemorial, but their artificial cultivation for commercial purposes like farming is a relatively new concept.

   The commercial cultivation of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) is reported to have begun in France during 1650. In India, the commercial cultivation of mushrooms was pioneered by Dr. E. F. K. Mental from Germany (FAO consultant at Solan). In 1961, ICAR had developed and implemented a project named “Development of Mushroom Cultivation in Himachal Pradesh” in collaboration with H.P. Govt.

   Under this project, a modern spawn (substrate that already has mycelium growing on it similar to seeds....