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Gadvasu

ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਦੇਵ ਵੈਟਨਰੀ ਅਤੇ ਐਨੀਮਲ ਸਾਇੰਸਜ਼ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary And Animal Sciences University

ADMISSION 2019-20
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Cordyceps militaris (mushroom) cultivation as a subsidiary occupation

March 22

A Nature provides an amazing array of resources to improve our health and boost our immunity. Mushrooms are a type of fungus that are enjoyed by people all over the world and renowned for their nutritional benefits. In recent years, scientists have studied the medicinal benefits of the Cordyceps militaris, It is a species of fungus in the family Clavicipitaceae, and the type species of the genus Cordyceps. The fungus is club-shaped and orange/red fruiting bodies, which grow out of dead underground pupae earlier but now its cultivation is possible in labs or under controlled atmosphere conditions. The surface appears roughly punctured. The inner fungal tissue is whitish to pale orange.

Mr Rashpal Singh, Village-Ballokee, district Barnala (Punjab) has grown this mushroom successfully in his homemade laboratory. Cordyceps militaris, cultivation is a new and challenging concept, as a fear before success. He gathered initial information on the mushroom production technology at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Handiaya (Barnala). Mr. Rashpal showed his interest to grow Cordyceps militaris and he studied various sources on internet and arranges the required material for its cultivation. Dr Harjot Singh Sohi, Assistant professor (Horticulture) at KVK has provided him all the basic information to complete the whole incubation period of this medicinal mushroom. While producing this mushroom, farmer has used various daily used objects to circumvent the cost of production, which could open a new window for microbiologist. The reviewed farmer is very satisfied and now his goal to achieve more in this field, commercially and technically sound. Presently, he is also cultivating oyster mushroom and making spawn of Shiitake mushrooms from the strain that he obtained from Europe, to set up mushroom production unit cum lab. Dr PS Tanwar, Associate Director, KVK, Barnala, GADVASU, Ludhiana played a supportive role while achieving this milestone and congrats the farmer for his success.

Huge medicinal value in Cordyceps militaris with a potential harbour of bio-metabolites for herbal drugs and evidences are available about its applications for revitalization of various systems of the body from ancient times. Evidence showed that the active principles of C. militaris are beneficial to act as pro-sexual, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant/anti-aging, anti-tumour/anti-cancer/anti-leukemic, anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic, immunemodulatory, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-protozoal, insecticidal, larvicidal, anti-fibrotic, steroidogenic, hypoglacaemic, hypolipidaemic, anti-angiogenetic, anti-diabetic, anti-HIV, anti-malarial, anti-fatigue, neuroprotective, liver-protective, reno-protective as well as pneumo-protective, let alone their other synergistic activities, which let it be marketable in the western countries as over-the-counter medicine article published in Fitoterapia journal.

This research is carried to uplift the socio-economic status of the farmers and to generate employment. This technique will be liberate for the welfare of society and one can also adopt it as a new entrepreneurship, says KVK.


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