Scientists of All India Coordinated Mushroom Research Project, Udaipur, operated by the Directorate of Mushroom Research, Chambaghat, Solan (Himachal Pradesh), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, conducted intensive inspection in the month of July-August 2024 to study the diversity of edible and medicinal mushrooms in various wildlife sanctuaries and forests of Rajasthan.
During the inspection, a total of 64 mushroom species have been collected so far. The inspection was mainly done in the forests of Phulwari Ki Naal, Phalasia-Kotda, Kevada Ki Naal, Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary-Pratapgarh, Gogunda, Sandol Mata Jhadol and Jhallara, Salumbar.
Dr. Narayan Lal Meena, in-charge and co-professor of All India Coordinated Mushroom Research Project, Udaipur, said that a lot of diversity in mushroom species is found in the forests of South Rajasthan because a lot of diversity in plant species is also found in these forests, hence the maximum diversity of mushroom species was found in Phulwari Ki Naal, Phalasia-Kotda.
Since Phulwari Naal is a major area of plant diversity, during intensive inspection a new wild species of edible milk umbrella mushroom (Calocybe indica) was found in Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary, Pratapgarh which is different from the cultivated milk umbrella mushroom.
The cap size of this mushroom is 30 x 28 cm, shape- spherical, colour- milky white, stem length 23-25 cm and weight of one fruit body was recorded as 2 to 2.25 kg which is the highest weight of the fruit body of milk umbrella mushroom and this is a large species whose tissue culture will be done in Mushroom Laboratory, Rajasthan Agricultural College, Udaipur and further research will be done to develop the technology of cultivation.
The team that discovered this species included Dr. Suresh Kumar, Avinash Kumar Nagda and Kishan Singh Rajput etc. apart from the project in-charge Dr. Narayan Lal Meena.
