"DIFFERENT TO ALL OTHERS"

CULTIVATION OF DESERT MUSHROOM,

PODAXIS PISTILLARIS (L.) Morse
By
M. Mithal Jiskani
Assistant Professor (Plant Pathology)
Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam.

Mushroom is a form of plant life but has no green coloring matter or chlorophyll. It is being recognized as fleshy fungi,
sometimes tough, umbrella like sporophore (fruiting body). It produces microscopic spores, which serve as a mean of
reproduction, but are not same as that of plant seed. Naturally, the mushrooms grow in places like fields, woods,
forests, water channels, manure heaps, bands, grassy grounds and or in the plains. The mushrooms are also observed
during the rainy season on the manure heaps and dump places with abundance of humus as saprophyte and primary
decomposer or on living trees or plants as parasite.
Undoubtedly, it is hard to say that how many kinds of fungi or even mushrooms are? There may be several kinds or
species of mushrooms. Some are edible while others are extremely poisonous. The majority is unattractive for eating
(commonly called in-or non-edible) because of poor flavor, taste, texture or small size and sometimes due to
unattractive color and shape. Still other species are poisonous to some people and harmless to other and a few or not
only edible, but delicious too. Poisonous mushrooms are known to be poisonous because someone ate them and
become ill or died. Mostly white mushrooms are known to be edible, because people have eaten them regularly in
quantity with out ill effect.
It is also pertinent to mention here that according to Litton (1975), 90 to 95 percent of all deaths in Europe resulting
from mycetismus (mushroom poisoning), which have been attributed to a single species of Amanita, namely Amanita
phalloids, the so called ?death cup? mushroom. It is also true that, there is no taste, other than eating to determine
whether an unknown mushroom is edible or not! Hence, any one who gathers wild mushrooms for eating must be
absolutely certain of the identity of every single specimen picked.
However, there are over 2,500 mushroom varieties grown in the world today. The cheapest, edible and commercial
one, the button mushroom. Agaricus campestris, which is grown in more than 70 countries, producing a crop with a
value of over many billion dollars (Raven and Johnson, 1992). The most important use of mushroom is an article of
food.
The people of Sindh, mostly of the desert and mountain (Thar and Kohistan) areas are much familiar with the
business of Desert mushroom, Podaxis pistillaris, commonly known as KHUMBHI (Fig.1). It observed in plains,
meadows, coniferous forest etc. during rainy season (after summer and winter rains). It is really very much relished
by the people, because of its delicacy and deliciousness, as well as its medicinal value. This mushroom contains
21.06% crude protein, 1.71% ether extract, 24.13% ash and 12.23% crude fibber (Khan, 1986).
There are various ways by which it is consumed, mostly as a fresh in breakfast. The local Hukmah (Hakims) use it in
different ways for treatment of different food deficiencies and illness. Some times it is used with butter for bandage of
broken bones.

Fig.1. Desert mushroom,

Fig. 2. Desert mushroom of various ages on sale point
Podaxis Pistillaris

CLASSIFICATION
According to Alexopolous and Mims (1979) Podaxis pistillaris belongs to order Hymenogastrales, Subclass
Holobasidiomycetidae and Class Basidiomycetes, but Dring (1973) placed it in order Podaxales. Smith (1973) recorded
its family as Agaricaceae. While Bessey (1964) give its systematic position as Class Basidiomyceteae, subclass
Eubasidiae, ?Gasteromyceteae?, orders Lycoperadales, family Podaxaxeae.
CHARACTERS
This mushroom is quite common, found in a variety of habitats and easy to recognize. Mostly, it found on ground, is
tall and erect. It has a slender woody stipe (stem), which penetrates the gleba (oval to egg shaped fruiting body is
called a gleba, is the fertile portion enclosed a distinct outer wall (peridium). The peridium consists of one or more
layers. It may be firm, hard, soft, and papery or may even disappear during the development of the spore fruit. The
peridium may open naturally after spores are mature. The gleba is fleshy first (consists of more or less fleshy mycelial
growth) and become powdery after maturity. The stem extends into a gleba, therefore the pileus (cap) has failed to
expand like other mushrooms, but it remains attached to the stem. The basidia are borne in cluster on short branches
of hypha. The spores are not forcibly discharged from the cap, like other mushrooms, but simply fall off after the
peridium is broken or has weathered away. Different specimens of various ages, grown under extremes of habitats,
look like different species, but actually are only one species, Podaxis pistillaris (fig.2). According to Arora (1986), the
cap is 2-15 cm high and 1-4 cm broad, oval to cylindrical; surface dry, pure white to tan, yellow-brown, or brown;
typically breaking up to form shaggy fibrils or scales which may eventually wear away to reveal the smooth undersurface; eventually tearing radially or irregularly. Whereas, the stem is 4-15 (26) cm long, 0.2-1 (1.5) cm thick, equal
above, the base usually swollen, solid or hollow; white and discolored with age.
CULTIVATION
Most of the people are of opinion that rain is a seed of desert mushroom, gifted from almighty Allah. Only Arora
(1986), claimed that ?I have personally worked with this mushroom and have had no problem? (?!). Actually, the dark
brown to black powdery mass, developed in mature mushrooms, is a huge quantity of spores, which are not seeds,
but serve as a mean of seed.
Preliminary experiments have been conducted on the artificial cultivation of Desert mushroom, Podaxis pistillaris, at
Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. The results reveal that it can also be easily grown as that of other cultivated
mushrooms with a little difference. It does not need tissue culture or artificially prepared spawn, but spores produced
in mature mushroom, in shape of dark brown powder, can directly be used for sowing purpose. Further, the results
show that there is no need of agricultural or industrial waste, nor a process of soaking, boiling or sterilizing of such
material is required. On the other hand, it can be simply cultivated on flat bed of soil. Only the need is that select
sandy to sandy loam soil in the surrounding of thick grove of trees and or gardens, or ordinary shed must be
prepared, because direct sun rays are dangerous for this mushroom too. Ditches, caves, hut, hovels, cottage, sheds

or shelters, bee-hive shaped huts, thatched or matted roofs as well as cellars, garages, kitchens, bathrooms or any
other extra rooms of a house or so, can be used as a shed for mushroom cultivation.
However, small 4x5 feet sized beds may be prepared with about 9 to 12 inches layer of soil and than one soaking dose
of irrigation water may be applied. After a day, the mushroom powder (spores of matured mushroom), not old than
one year, may be broadcasted on the prepared bed. The same may be mixed with the help of log stick, spade or so,
on 2 to 3 inches upper surface of the bed. It must be kept in mind that the beds should be under shade (of trees or
artificially prepared thatches etc.). The water must be sprinkled just after mixing of the spores and twice a day on the
following days, so that the beds remain moist.
No doubt, humidity, temperature and light affect primary as well as remaining growth stages of the mushroom, hence,
the crop may take different period (days) in different seasons. Normally the crop may appear within 30 days. Initially,
the roots like threads, (or well-developed hypha) develop from the spores, in orders to search for food, which are
actually microscopic, but some times are visible. These threads transmit into mushroom, which initially appears very
small and milky in color, which may vary in shape and size, on the beds, but become normal in shape and size, within
one or two-three days, depending upon the environmental conditions.
HARVESTING
The mature mushrooms (but before production of spores) can be picked by twisting at the base of stem, and lifting
from the bed. This mushroom also yields the crop in flushes, therefore, care must be taken during harvesting
(picking), so that no any portion of harvested mushroom may remain on the bed. The subsequent flushes depend on
the proper watering, humidity, temperature and light. Sometimes, other saprophytic mushrooms as well as lower
fungi and different microbes cause damage to the crop and bed as well. Therefore, the cropping area must be kept
cleaned and safe to public, domestic animals, birds etc.
REFERENCES
1. Alexopoulos, C. J. and C. W. Mims. 1979. Introductory Mycology. 3rd. Ed., New York. Pp. 632
2. Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms demystified. 2nd Ed., Berkeley: Ten Speed Press: 725-26.
http://amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0898151694/002-5088736-8940217. In: The pages maintained for the Arizona
Mushroom Club by Scott Bates, contact at: azmushclub@aol.com this page was last modified on December 10, 1998.
3. Bessey, E. A. 1964. Morphology and Taxonomy of fungi. Hafner Pub. Co. New York.
4. During, D. M. 1973. Gasteromycetes. In ?The Fungi. Vol. IVB?. G. C. Ainsworth, F. K. Sparrow, and A. S. Sussman
(Eds.), Academic Press New York.
5. Khan, S. M. 1986. Mushrooms, in ?Plant disease? by A. Hafiz. PARC, Islamabad. 552pp.
6. Litten, W. 1975. The most poisonous mushrooms. Scientific American 232:91 ? 101.
7. Raven, P. H. and G. B. Johnson. 1992. Biology, 3rd Ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 11830 Westline Industrial Srivers,
Louis, Missouri 63146, USA/
8. Smith, A. H. 1973. Agaricales and related Secotioid Gasteromycetes. In ?The Fungi. Vol. IVB?. G. C. Ainsworth, F.
K. Sparrow and A. S. Sussman (Eds.), Academic Press New York.