INDIAN SCIENCE CONGRESS - India Environment Portal

18
Proc. 98th Indian Science Congress, Part II : Presidential Address
September, some may last up to mid of October, This is primarily based upon the
inhabitant and communication of the rainy season in this zone 30 species of macro
fungi were seen to form mycorrhizal will different tree species viz. II species were
associated with C. deodara, 7 with Q. leucotrichophora 4 with Picea smithiana
and P. roxburghii three with P. wallichiana, two with Quercus semicarpifolia
and one each with Rhododendron arboreum and Betula sp.
(2) Ecological relationships of Morels
The relation of Morchella production to forest type, the fruiting period of
morels plus such parameters as temperature, pH and NPK and Ca contents of
morel bearing and non morel bearing soils have also been investigated. The
maximum production of Morchella has been observed to be in the temperate mixed
coniferous forests especially in deodar forests, from March to May, depending upon
the amount of snowfall and subsequent precipitation.
The Mycorhhizosphere of morels bearing soils and non- morel bearing soils
was also studied to identify the associated fungi. Morchella esculenta, M. conica,
M. angustceps and M. deliciosa have been observed to enter into mycorrhizal
association with herbaceous plants i. e. strawberry, ferns and grasses. The
subterranean portion of the capophore forms a loosely woven cord near its base.
Morel hyphae penetrate into all the tissues of roots except xylem. The hyphae form
a loose weft on the root periphery, some of them penetrating directly into the cell
lumens (Lakhanpal et al. 1991) : The entire work on morels has been processed
into a monograph entitled, “Biology of Indian Morels” (Lakhanpal et. al. 2010).
Mushrooms and Environmental Amelioration
The present times witness a tremendous increase in the generation of wastes.
Mushroom cultivation can be practiced to recycle some of the waste material. The
processes of mushroom cultivation can bio convert all the major plant polymers.
Bio-conservation of waste through mushroom cultivation is simple and low cost
technology. In this process, enzyme complexes of mushroom act upon the lignocellulosic
material degrading and utilizing it to produce mushroom fruiting bodies with
high value food protein, which can be directly consumed by human beings. The
residues can also be used as animal feed or as an effective soil fertilizer.
From amongst the 2000 species of mushrooms reported to be edible from all
over the world, technology is available for the commercial cultivation of about 14
species. We were also able to develop cultivation technology for two mushrooms.