Management of contaminants in mushroom spawn

Abstract

In a study carried out at Mushroom Research and Training Center, SKUAST-J during 2015-16, mushroom spawn prepared on different substrates and supplements was observed for incidence of contamination by fungal and bacterial contaminants. Contamination in spawn ranged from 12.66% (sorghum based spawn) to 20.66% (bajra based spawn). Four major types of contaminants including three fungal, viz. Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp. and one bacterial contaminant, viz. Bacillus spp. were observed. These contaminants were found individually as well as in combination in all the grain substrates. Management of contaminants using multiple strategies was also studied in the present research. The treatment comprising three boiling treatment showed maximum efficiency in management of fungal and bacterial contaminants that reduced the fungal contamination up to 78.33%. However, up to 98.66% reduction in fungal as well as bacterial contamination of spawn was obtained with three autoclavings of the spawn. Among the antibiotics, application of tetracycline (50 μg/kg) resulted in the reduction of 98.33% of bacterial contamination in the spawn.