http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=274274&ssid=26&sid=ENV
Goa university develops new oyster mushroom strain Panaji, Feb 08: The Goa university scientists have successfully developed a highly stable and fertile strain of the second most popular, commercially cultivated edible oyster mushroom, which is locally called `Dhingri`. Developed under a Centre-sponsored long-term joint project, cataloguing the bio-diversity of the Westren Ghats of Goa, the mushroom specie also known as `pleurotus ostreatus`, was developed as part of an attempt to domesticate the local wild and hitherto uncultivated edible mushroom, Dr Nandkumar Kamat of the Botany Department, who is one of the principal investigators of the Planning Commission-sponsored project, said here yesterday. He said the strain, developed from a wild variety found in Sanguem taluka, is the first proven fertile strain from the Western Ghats with a potential for outdoor local conditions. Research was on to enhance the yield and prepare hybrid strains suitable for conditions in Goa using cheap locally available raw material and outdoor environment, he added. At present, the oyster mushroom producers in Goa use the imported strain or the ones developed in other states like Punjab, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he pointed out. Dr Kamat was assisted by Kumud Phadte and Nikita D`Silva.
