International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology

Vol-10, Issue-4; Jul-Aug, 2025

Peer-Reviewed International Journal
Journal Home Page Available: https://ijeab.com/
Journal DOI: 10.22161/ijeab

Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and

Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica
Gorishanker Meena1, N.L. Meena2, R.N. Bunker2, C.P. Nama3, Pokhar Rawal2, Pulkit
Mittal1, Pooja Gurjar1
1M.Sc. (Ag), Department of Plant Pathology, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
2Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
3Professor, Department of Nematology, RCA, MPUAT, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Corresponding e-mail:

Received: 07 Jun 2025; Received in revised form: 5 Jul 2025; Accepted: 12 Jul 2025; Available online: 19 Jul 2025
©2025 The Author(s). Published by Infogain Publication. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Abstract— The study assessed six stains of Calocybe indica (CI-24-201, CI-24-202, CI-24-203, CI-24-204,
CI-24-205 and CI-24-206) for mycelial growth, morphological traits and nutritional composition. Significant
interspecific variation was observed across media types, with CI-24-205 exhibited the fastest colonization
and early pinning and showing the highest yield and biological efficiency. Morphological traits varied
distinctly among strains. Nutritionally, CI-24-203 had the highest protein, CI-24-206 had the highest ash,
CI-24-201 showed maximum carbohydrate and CI-24-202 showed maximum moisture levels. The findings
identify CI-24-205 as promising strain for commercial cultivation.
Keywords— Mushroom, Calocybe indica, Milky, Nutrition and Biological Efficiency

I. INTRODUCTION generally grows on substrate rich in organic material in

The word "mushroom" originates from the Gallo-Roman tropical regions. This mushroom blooms well between the
term mussirio, referring to macro-fungi with fleshy fruiting months of April and September. It is primarily cultivated in
bodies. Belonging to the division Basidiomycota, India, as it grows well at higher temperatures. This
mushrooms include saprophytic, mycorrhizal and parasitic mushroom requires a temperature range of about 25-35°C
fungi. Their vegetative structure consists of thread-like and a relative humidity of 80-90%. As the fungus has an
hyphae (mycelium), which under favourable conditions effective system for the lignocellulosic substrate
produce visible fruiting bodies, either above (epigenous) or degradation, it can be cultivated on varieties of cellulosic
below (hypogenous) ground (Chang and Miles, 1992). substrates like wheat straw, paddy straw, sorghum stalks,
pearl millet stalks, maize stalks, sugarcane bagasse,
Calocybe indica, commonly known as the milky
sugarcane trace, soybean straw, cotton waste, coconut coir
mushroom (also known as the milky mushroom/summer
pith, groundnut haulms, etc. (Patel and Trivedi, 2016).
mushroom or dudh chatta, as it is a good-yielding
mushroom even in the summer season) in India, is a Its consumption in Western countries is 75% of total world
member of the Kingdom – Fungi, Phylum – production, viz., USA 30%, Germany 17%, UK 11%, Italy
Basidiomycota, Class - Agaricomycetes, Order- 10%, Canada 6% and the remaining 15% by the rest of the
Agaricales, Family – Tricholomataceae, Genus – Calocybe world. These countries offer good marketing for
and Species – indica. (Alexopolous et al., 1996). mushrooms. During 2022, per capita consumption of
mushrooms in India was hardly 180-200 g as compared to
This mushroom was first reported from West Bengal, India,
3 to 4 kg in developed countries (Kumar et al., 2022).
by Purakayasha and Chandra in 1974. Calocybe indica

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

In India, annual mushroom production is approximately treatment. Radial mycelial growth was measured by taking
2.69 lakh tonnes, with Bihar (11.3%) being the leading the average of two perpendicular diameters of the colony
producer, followed by Odisha (10.2%) and Maharashtra and subtracting the initial 5 mm disc. Data on mycelial
(9.3%) (ICAR-DMR, 2023–24). button mushrooms growth were statistically analyzed. Observations continued
contribute around 73% of total production followed by until any one treatment reached full Petri plate coverage.
white Oyster mushrooms (16%), paddy straw (7%) and The preparation of solid media whose composition is given
milky mushrooms (4%). India exported 105.4 tonnes of below were taken for in vitro studies.
processed button mushrooms in 2016–17, earning
Composition of different media:
₹7,282.26 lakh (Sharma et al., 2017).
C. indica is a good source of protein, lipids, fiber, S.
Medium Constituents Quantity
carbohydrates, vitamins and contains a plentiful amount of No.
essential amino acids (Alam et al., 2008). The mature fruit Malt extract 20 g
body of C. indica contains the highest protein (17.2% on a Malt Agar-agar 20 g
dry weight basis), while young pinheads contain the lowest 1. Extract
Agar Distilled water 1000 ml
protein (15% on a dry weight basis), 4.1% fat, 3.4% crude
fiber, 64.26% carbohydrates and eleven amino acids. pH 7.0
Milky mushrooms contain 17.69% protein, 4.1% fat, 3.4% Peeled potato 200.00 g
crude fiber and 64.26% carbohydrates; mature sporocarps
Potato Dextrose 20.00 g
contain 4% soluble sugars, 2.9% starch and 7.43% ash
(Kumar et al. 2017). 2. Dextrose Agar-agar 20.00 g
Agar Distilled water 1000 ml
II. METHODOLOGY pH 7.0
This experiment was conducted to evaluate the cultural, Preparation of media: The media were prepared
morphological characteristics and nutritional analysis of following standard protocols. For Potato Dextrose Agar
six different strains of Calocybe indica and to identify the (PDA), 500 ml of water was taken in a 1-litre beaker and
most vigorous strains under varying cultivation conditions. 200 g of peeled and sliced potatoes were added. For Malt
The selected species were cultivated from December to Extract Agar (MEA), 20 g of malt extract was used in place
May 2025 for comparative assessment. of potato. The contents were gently boiled for about 20
minutes or until the potatoes could be easily pierced with a
Six strains were taken for this investigation as follows:
glass rod. The extract was then filtered through muslin
CI-24-201 cloth, squeezing out all the liquid. Then add 20 g dextrose
CI-24-202 (in the case of PDA only) and 20 g of agar-agar were added
CI-24-203 to the filtrate. The volume was adjusted to 1000 ml using
distilled water. The medium was dispensed into 200 ml
CI-24-204 portions in conical flasks and sterilized in an autoclave
CI-24-205 before use.
CI-24-206 Studies on morphological characterization of Calocybe
Studies on cultural characterization of Pleurotus indicaq
species The morphological characterization of the six strains of
The mycelial growth patterns of six strains of Calocybe Calocybe indica were assessed by cultivating them on
indica were studied on two different solid media to wheat straw substrate during December to May, 2025. The
determine their suitability for supporting mycelial experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized
development. The media were sterilized at 121.6°C under Design (CRD) comprising six different strains of Calocybe
15 psi pressure for 20 minutes. Subsequently, 20 ml of each indica as treatments, each replicated four times using four
medium was poured into 90 mm diameter Petri dishes. cultivation bags per replication. Wheat straw served as the
These plates were inoculated with 5 mm discs cut from 15- cultivation substrate, with each bag containing 4 kg of wet
day-old cultures of Calocybe indica using a sterilized cork substrate. Standard cultivation bags of size 45 x 30 inches
borer and incubated at 25°C. were used for mushroom production.

The experimental design followed a Completely Chemical sterilization by application of formalin (2%) was
Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications each carried out by treating the casing material placed on a

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

plastic sheet treating with solution 2% formalin (50 ml/liter Moisture percent
of water). Formalin was sprinkled in layers till saturation 𝐼𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚(𝑔) − 𝐷𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑢𝑠ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚
=
and then covered with another plastic sheet. The casing Initial weight of mushroom(g)
material was turned after 24 hours and then again covered × 100
tightly with plastic sheeting. After 48 hours it was Estimation of Protein: Protein content was estimated
uncovered and stirred frequently to remove the traces of using the Biuret method as described by Burtis and
formalin fumes. The treated material was then stored in a Ashwood (2006).
nylon bag and used 2 days after the treatment.
Reagents: Protein Standard; 5 mg/ml of purified protein
The following observations were recorded during the (e.g., BSA or Casein), Biuret Reagent; Prepared by
experiment to evaluate the performance of different strains dissolving 3 g CuSO₄ and 9 g sodium potassium tartrate in
of Calocybe indica: days taken for spawn run completion, 500 ml of 0.2 N NaOH, followed by the addition of 5 g KI
days taken for pinhead initiation, days taken 1st harvest and making up the volume to 1 litre with 0.2 N NaOH.
after casing and the number of fruiting bodies per bag.
Morphological characteristics of fruiting bodies were also Procedure: Five grams of finely grinded mushroom tissue
assessed, including pileus features such as surface texture, were boiled in 50 ml of 1 N NaOH for 30 minutes. After
size, shape, colour/pigmentation and margin type. Stipe cooling to room temperature, the mixture was centrifuged
characteristics and its mode of attachment were also noted. at 1000 × g by a table centrifuge machine. The supernatant
Additionally, the average weight per fruiting body, detailed was collected and analyzed for protein content using the
fruit body measurements and total yield were recorded to Biuret method.
calculate the Biological Efficiency (BE) of each treatment. Determination of Carbohydrate: Total carbohydrates
The biological efficiency was also calculated by following were estimated using the Anthrone method.
the formula (Chang, 1981). Reagents: Anthrone Reagent; 200 mg anthrone dissolved
Biological Efficiency (%) in 100 ml ice-cold concentrated H₂SO₄, Standard Glucose
Fresh fruiting bodies (g) Solution; Prepared by dissolving 100 mg glucose in 100 ml
= × 100
Dry weight of substrate (g) distilled water (stock) and further diluting 10 ml of stock
to 100 ml to make the working standard.
Nutritional analysis of different strains of Calocybe
indica Procedure: Aliquots of 0.21 ml from the working glucose
The nutritional composition of six strains of Calocybe standard were taken in five test tubes, diluted to 1 ml with
distilled water and 5 ml anthrone reagent was added to
indica (CI-24-201, CI-24-202, CI-24-203, CI-24-204, CI-
each. After mixing, the tubes were heated in a water bath
24-205 and CI-24-206) were analyzed to compare key
quality parameters of the fruiting bodies cultivated under for 10 minutes, cooled and absorbance was recorded at 630
ambient conditions. The study also aimed to examine the nm. A blank (distilled water + reagent) was also prepared.
relationship between nutritional content and the basal A standard curve was used to determine sugar
concentrations in the samples.
substrate, wheat straw. The experiment was laid out in a
Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of six Determination of Ash
treatments (strains) with four replications each. One gram of the sample was weighted accurately
The following nutritional parameters were assayed to into a crucible. The crucible was placed on a clay pipe
evaluate the quality of different strains of Calocybe indica: triangle and heated first over a low flame till all the
total moisture content, total protein content, total material was completely charred, followed by heating in a
carbohydrate content and total ash content. These analyses muffle furnace for about 6 hours at 600oC. It was then
provided insights into the nutritional composition and cooled in a desiccator and weighed. Then total ash was
potential dietary value of the cultivated mushrooms. calculated as following equation (Raghurmalu et al. 2003):
The methods and protocols to achieve the above ones
are as follows: Total weight of ash
Moisture content: Moisture percentage was determined Ash (%) = -----------------------------------------------× 100
by sun-drying the freshly harvested mushroom samples
Weight of sample taken
and calculating the difference between their fresh and dry
weights using the standard formula:

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 75.80 MEA. Its mycelium appeared white and
Cultural characterization of different strains of demonstrated a fast growth rate. CI-24- 201 also recorded
Calocybe indica high radial growth, 73.30 mm on PDA and 68.60 mm on
MEA. Strain CI-24-203 demonstrated mycelial growth of
The growth characteristics of six stains of
64.56 mm on PDA and 62.30 mm on MEA. The mycelium
Calocybe indica were evaluated on two culture media:
appeared pure white and initially fluffy. Strain CI-24-205
Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Malt Extract Agar
also recorded mycelial growth, 57.86 mm on PDA and
(MEA). The results are presented in Table 1, Fig 1. and
50.30 mm on MEA. On the other hand, CI-24-206 showed
Plate 2. The strains showed considerable variation in terms
the least growth on PDA (54.76 mm) and MEA (51.16
of radial mycelial growth, nature of the mycelium and
mm). Its growth rate was classified as slightly slower in
growth rate. Among the tested strains, CI-24-202 exhibited
comparison to the other strain tested (Table no. 1, Figure 1
the maximum mycelial growth of 80.53 mm on PDA and
and Plate 2).
Table 1: Cultural characterization of different strains of Calocybe indica on two different growth media in laboratory
condition
S. No. Treatments (Strain) Mycelial growth on Potato dextrose Mycelial growth on Malt extract
agar (mm) agar (mm)
1 T1 (CI-24-201) 73.30 68.60
2 T2 (CI-24-202) 80.53 75.80
3 T3 (CI-24-203) 64.56 62.30
4 T4 (CI-24-204) 68.76 66.03
5 T5 (CI-24-205) 57.86 50.30
6 T6 (CI-24-206) 54.76 51.16
SEm± 0.56 0.71
CD(p=0.05) 1.76 2.23
All the observations are average of three replications.

Table 2: Growth performance of various strains of Calocybe indica in cropping room

S. Treatments Days Days Days taken No. of Total Biological Avg. per
No. (Strain) taken taken in 1st harvest fruiting Yield Efficiency fruit body
in pin head after bodies / (g/kg (%) weight (g)
spawn initiation casing bags substrate)
run
1 T1 (CI-24-201) 25.00 23.25 32.25 7 604.94 60.49 86.42

2 T2 (CI-24-202) 22.50 20.50 30.75 8 685.68 68.56 85.71

3 T3 (CI-24-203) 20.50 21.75 28.75 9 694.98 69.49 77.22

4 T4 (CI-24-204) 23.75 22.25 31.00 8 624.00 62.40 78.00

5 T5 (CI-24-205) 17.50 19.50 28.25 9 790.20 79.02 87.80

6 T6 (CI-24-206) 19.50 20.00 29.50 9 715.68 71.56 79.52

SEm± 0.13 0.14 0.16 0.13 1.80 0.18 0.27

CD(p=0.05) 0.41 0.43 0.49 0.40 5.40 0.54 0.80

All the observations are average of four replications.

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

Table 3: Morphological characterization of different strains of Calocybe indica

S. Treatments Pileus Pileus Pileus Pileus Pileus Stipe Pigmentation
No. (Strain) surface Shape Colour Margin Attachment in Gills

1 T1 (CI-24-201) Present Dull dry Convex White Inrolled Central White

2 T2 (CI-24-202) Present Dry flat Broadly White Uplifted Central Off white
convex
3 T3 (CI-24-203) Present Dull dry Convex White Uplifted Central White
flat
4 T4 (CI-24-204) Present Dull dry Convex Creamy- Inrolled Lateral Creamy-white
white
5 T5 (CI-24-205) Present Dry Convex Off Uplifted Lateral Off White
white
6 T6 (CI-24-206) Present Dry flat Broadly White Uplifted Central Off White
convex
All the observations are average of four replications.

Table 4: Morphological measurement of Pileus, Stipe of different strains of Calocybe indica

S. No. Treatments (Strain) Average Diameter Average Length of Average Diameter of
of Pileus (cm) Stipe (cm) Stipe (cm)
1 T1 (CI-24-201) 7.90 8.90 2.5
2 T2 (CI-24-202) 8.80 10.60 2.7
3 T3 (CI-24-203) 10.13 10.33 2.6
4 T4 (CI-24-204) 11.03 8.33 2.4
5 T5 (CI-24-205) 13.30 10.22 2.5
6 T6 (CI-24-206) 9.40 10.01 2.2
SEm± 0.78 0.28 0.16
CD(p=0.05) 0.26 0.84 N/S
All the observations are average of four replications.

Various researchers have extensively studied the cultural Morphological characterization of different strains of
characteristics of Pleurotus spp. across different media. Calocybe indica
This was corroborated by Kerkatta et al., (2018), who The growth and yield performance of six strain of
consistently observed superior mycelial growth on Calocybe indica were evaluated under controlled
PDA.emphasized the efficacy of MEA for specific conditions. Considerable variation was observed among
Calocybe indica. Singh et al. (2020) also confirmed PDA’s the strains in terms of days taken for spawn run, pinhead
superiority over synthetic and alternative media. initiation, 1st harvest after casing, total yield, biological
efficiency, number of fruiting bodies per bag and average
fruit body weight (Table no. 2, Figure 2,3,4).

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

Mycelial growth on Potato dextrose agar (mm)

90 80.53
73.3 75.8
80
68.6 68.76
64.5662.3 66.03
70
57.86
60 54.76
50.3 51.16
50
40
30
20
10
0
T1 (CI-24-201) T2 (CI-24-202) T3 (CI-24-203) T4 (CI-24-204) T5 (CI-24-205) T6 (CI-24-206)

Fig 1: Effect of different growth media on the mycelial growth of different strains of Calocybe indica

Days taken in spawn run Days taken in pin head initiation Days taken 1st harvest after casing

35 32.25
30.75 31
28.75 29.5
28.25
30
25
23.25 23.75
25 22.5 21.75 22.25
20.5 20.5 19.5 19.5 20
20 17.5

15

10

0
T1 (CI-24-201) T2 (CI-24-202) T3 (CI-24-203) T4 (CI-24-204) T5 (CI-24-205) T6 (CI-24-206)

Fig 2: Average number of days taken in spawn run completion to average number of days taken 1 st harvest after casing on
different strains of Calocybe indica.

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

Biological Efficiency (%)

86.42 87.8
90 85.71
78 79.02 79.52
77.22
80
7
68.56 69.49
70 62.4
60.49
60

50

40

30

20

10

0
T1 (CI-24-201) T2 (CI-24-202) T3 (CI-24-203) T4 (CI-24-204) T5 (CI-24-205) T6 (CI-24-206)

Fig 3: Biological Efficiency (%) and average fruit body weight of different strains of Calocybe indica

Total Yield (g/kg…

790.20
800 715.68
685.68 694.98
700 604.94 624

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
T1 (CI-24-201) T2 (CI-24-202) T3 (CI-24-203) T4 (CI-24-204) T5 (CI-24-205) T6 (CI-24-206)
Different Strains
Fig 4: Total yield (g/kg substrate) of different strains of Calocybe indica

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

Moisture (%) Protein (%)

100 90.5
85.86 84.73 87.33
90 83.1 82.33
80
70
60 52.53 50.56
48.5 46.66
50 44.56 43.03
40
30 24.5
21.36 19.63 20.4 20.06
17.23
20 9.46 9.36 9.86 10.32
8.13 8.4
10
0
T1 (CI-24-201) T2 (CI-24-202) T3 (CI-24-203) T4 (CI-24-204) T5 (CI-24-205) T6 (CI-24-206)

Different Strains
Fig 5: Moisture, protein, carbohydrates and ash contents in different strains of Calocybe indica

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

Spawn run and pinhead initiation CI-24-201 displayed a dull dry surface with a convex
The shortest spawn run was recorded in CI-24-205, which shape. The margin was inrolled. The pileus was centrally
completed colonization in 17.50 days, followed by CI-24- attached to the stipe. It was characterized by a white pileus
206 (19.50 days), CI-24-203 (20.50 days), CI-24-202 and white gills, maintaining uniform pigmentation
(22.50 days), CI-24-204 (23.75 days) and CI-24-201 took throughout maturity. CI-24-202 showed a dry, flat pileus
the longest time of 25 days. After casing application CI-24- surface, with a shape ranging broadly convex. The margin
205 also exhibited the earliest pinhead initiation (19.50 uplifted, and the attachment was central. The fruiting body
days), followed by CI-24-206 (20 days), CI-24-202 (20.50 showed white pigmentation with gills that off white as they
days), CI-24-203 (21.75 days), CI-24-204 (22.25 days) and aged. CI-24-203 was characterized by a dull dry flat pileus
CI-24-201 took the longest time of 23.25 days. with a convex shape. Its margin was uplifted and the cap
was centrally attached. It was characterized by a white
Days taken 1st harvest after casing
pileus and white gills. CI-24-204 featured a dull dry pileus
The shortest days taken 1st harvest after casing was with a convex shape. The margins were inrolled, and
recorded in CI-24-205, which completed in 28.25 days, attachment was lateral, indicating slight off-cantering of
followed by CI-24-203 (28.75 days), CI-24-206 (29.50 the stipe. The vibrant creamy white colour pileus and gills
days), CI-24-202 (30.75 days), CI-24-204 (31 days) and of this strain. CI-24-205 exhibited a dry pileus surface with
CI-24-201 took the longest time of 32.25 days a convex shape. The margins were uplifted and the
Total yield (biological efficiency) attachment remained lateral. Despite a similar shape to
other species, its off-white coloration of pileus and gills
The highest total yield (790.20 g/bag) was obtained from
make it distinguishable. CI-24-206 showed a dry, flat
CI-24-205, corresponding to a biological efficiency (B.E.)
pileus surface, with a shape ranging broadly convex. The
of 79.02%, indicating its superior performance. CI-24-206
margin uplifted, and the attachment was central. The
ranked second in yield (715.68 g/bag) with 71.56% B.E.,
fruiting body showed white pigmentation with gills that off
followed by CI-24-203 (694.98 g/bag, 69.49% B.E.), CI-
white as they aged (Table no. 3 and Plate 3)
24-202 (685.68 g/bag, 68.56%) and CI-24-204 (624 g/bag,
62.40% B.E.). While, the lowest yield was observed in CI- Fruit body dimensions
24-201 (604.94 g/bag), with the minimum biological The average pileus diameter ranged from 7.90 – 13.30 cm
efficiency of 60.49%. across all strains. The largest pileus diameter was recorded
Fruiting body characteristics in CI-24-205 (13.30 cm), followed by CI-24-204 (11.03
cm), CI-24-203 (10.13 cm), CI-24-206 (9.40 cm) and CI-
Among the six strains, the highest number of fruiting
24-202 (8.80 cm), while lowest pileus diameter was
bodies per bag (9) was produced in CI-24-203, CI-24-205
recorded in CI-24-201 (7.90 cm). The average stipe length
and CI-24-206, followed by (8) CI-24-202 and CI-24-204.
ranged from 8.33 to 10.60 cm, with CI-24-202 producing
However, the minimum number of fruiting bodies per bag
the longest stipe (10.60 cm), followed by CI-24-203 (10.33
(7) was produced in CI-24-201. The maximum average
cm), CI-24-205 (10.22 cm), CI-24-206 (10.01 cm) and CI-
fruit body weight (87.80 g) was of CI-24-205, followed by
24-201 (8.90 cm), while lowest stipe length was recorded
CI-24-201 (86.42 g), CI-24-202 (85.71 g), CI-24-206
in CI-24-204 (8.33 cm). The stipe diameter remained
(79.52 g) and CI-24-204 (78 g). While the minimum
relatively uniform, varying between 2.2 to 2.7 cm. The
average fruit body weight (77.22 g) was found in CI-24-
largest stipe diameter was recorded in CI-24-202 2.7 cm,
203.
while lowest stipe diameter was recorded in CI-24-206 2.2
The morphological features of the pileus (fruiting body cm (Table no. 4)
cap) of six different strains of Calocybe indica were
Nutritional analysis of different strains of Calocybe
examined and characterized based on surface, shape,
indica
margin, colour, pigmentation in gills and attachment. All
strain exhibited the presence of a pileus, but with distinct The nutritional composition of six strain of Calocybe
interspecific variation in structural features. indica was analysed and found to vary significantly across
key parameters such as moisture, protein, carbohydrates,
ash content. These values are crucial in determining the
dietary and commercial value of the Calocybe indica
Pileus surface and shape (Table no. 5, Fig 5 and Plate 4).
Table 5: Nutritional analysis of different strain of Calocybe indica.

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

S. No. Treatments Moisture Protein Carbohydrates Ash

(Strain) (%) (%) (%) (%)
1 T1 (CI-24-201) 85.86 17.23 52.53 8.13
2 T2 (CI-24-202) 90.50 21.36 48.50 8.40
3 T3 (CI-24-203) 84.73 24.50 44.56 9.46
4 T4 (CI-24-204) 87.33 19.63 50.56 9.36
5 T5 (CI-24-205) 83.10 20.40 43.03 9.86
6 T6 (CI-24-206) 82.33 20.06 46.66 10.32
SEm± 0.41 0.36 0.94 0.23
CD(p=0.05) 1.30 1.12 2.94 0.73
All the observations are average of three replications.

Moisture content: The highest moisture content was per cent was in CI-24.201. While, highest protein content
observed in CI-24-202 (90.50%), followed by CI-24-204 24.50 per cent was recorded in strain CI-24-203 and lowest
(87.33%), CI-24-201 (85.86%), CI-24-203 (84.73%), and protein content 17.23 per cent recorded in CI-24.201 and
CI-24-205 (83.10%). CI-24-206 had the lowest moisture highest carbohydrate content 52.53 per cent was in strain
content (82.33%), which may contribute to a longer shelf CI-24.201 and lowest carbohydrate content 43.03 per cent
life and higher concentration of dry matter nutrients. recorded in CI-24-205.Similar findings were made by
Protein content: Samples of each strain were analysed in Venktesh et al., 2019 who studied the nutritional quality of
the laboratory and results revealed that the protein content different strains of milky mushroom namely viz., CI-1, CI-
in ranged 17.23% - 24.50%. However, maximum protein 2, CI-3, CI-5 and APK-2. Among the five strains, strain
content (24.50%) was found in CI-24-203, followed by CI- CI-5 showed the maximum ash content (9.82 %), strain CI-
24-202 (21.36%), CI-24-205 (20.40%), CI-24-206 2 showed maximum moisture content (88.9%), strain CI-1
(20.06%) and CI-24-204 (19.63%). While, the minimum showed maximum carbohydrate (55.32 %) and strain CI-3
protein content 17.23% was obtained in CI-24-201. showed maximum protein content (24.50 %). However,
Chelladurai et al., 2014 also studied that the hundred grams
Carbohydrate content: The laboratory analysis of each
of dry C. indica contains of moisture, proteins,
strain's samples showed that their carbohydrate content
carbohydrate, fiber, fat, ash, ether extract, pH, total
varied between 43.03% to 52.53%. However, maximum
nitrogen and total carbon were found to be 89, 14.09,
carbohydrate content (52.53%) was found in CI-24-201,
13.09, 5.63, 8.02, 4.6, 7.05, 3.57, 33.60 and 5.4 mg/100 g,
followed by CI-24-204 (50.56%), CI-24-202 (48.50%), CI-
respectively.
24-206 (46.66%) and CI-24-203 (44.56%). While CI-24-
205 had the lowest carbohydrate amount, (43.03%)
Ash content: Laboratory analysis of each strain's samples IV. CONCLUSION
showed that the Ash content in ranged from 8.13 - 10.32%. This study revealed significant differences among six
However, CI-24-206 had the highest Ash content strains of Calocybe indica (CI-24-201 to CI-24-206) in
(10.32%), followed by CI-24-205 (9.86%), CI-24-203 cultural, morphological and nutritional characteristics. CI-
(9.46%), CI-24-204 (9.36%) and CI-24-202 (8.40%). 24-205 was the most promising, showing the highest yield
While CI-24-201 had the lowest Ash content, which was (790.20 g/bag), biological efficiency (79.02%), early
(8.13%). spawn run (17.5 days), shortest time to harvest (28.25
Present investigation revealed that the nutritional days), largest pileus (13.30 cm) and heaviest fruit bodies
composition of different six strains of Calocybe indica viz., (87.80 g). CI-24-203 had the highest protein content
CI-24-201, CI-24-202, CI-24-203, CI-24-204, CI-24-205 (24.50%) but the lowest fruit body weight (77.22 g). CI-
and CI-24-206 showed that the highest moisture content 24-201 recorded the highest carbohydrate content
90.50 per cent recorded in strain CI-24-202 and lowest (52.53%) but lowest yield (604.94 g), lowest biological
moisture content 82.33 per cent was in CI- 24-206. efficiency (60.49%) and lowest protein (17.23%). CI-24-
However, maximum ash content 10.32 per cent was 202 had the fastest mycelial growth (80.53 mm), longest
recorded in strain CI-24-206 and lowest ash content 8.13 stipe (10.60 cm) and highest moisture content (90.50%).

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Meena et al. Comparative Evaluation of Cultural, Morphological and Nutritional Characterization of Different Strains of
Calocybe indica

CI-24-206 exhibited the highest ash content (10.32%) and different strains of milky mushroom. International Journal
lowest moisture (82.33%), indicating better shelf life. CI- of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 8(8): 2972-
24-204 performed moderately in all parameters. These 2978.
[12] Patel, P. and Trivedi, R. 2016. Yield performance of
findings suggest strain-specific applications for
Calocybe indica on different agricultural
commercial cultivation, targeting high yield, nutritional
subatrate. International Research Journal of Engineering,
value, or post-harvest durability. IT and Scientific Research, 2(3): 66-71.
[13] Sharma VP, Annepu SK, Goutam Y, Singh M, Kamal S.
Status of mushroom production in India. Mushroom
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Research, 2017;26(2): 111-120.
The authors sincerely acknowledge the Head and Professor [14] Singh US, Mahendra, Shekhar C. Isolation, purification, and
of the Department of Plant Pathology, along with the Dean maintenance of pure culture and growth of oyster mushroom
of Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, for their (P. sajor-caju) on different solid media. International
valuable support, provision of research facilities and Journal of Chemical Studies, 2020;8(3): 1255-1258.
scientific guidance, which were instrumental in the
successful completion of this study.

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ISSN: 2456-1878 (Int. J. Environ. Agric. Biotech.)

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