Mushrooms- Mushrooms are produced by about 4000 species of basidiomycetes, of which nearly 2000 are regarded as edible. Out of these, about a dozen species are cultivated on a scale. The fruiting body is initiated as a small white ball, which continues to grow and elongate to produce a stem and a cap that begins to open up like an umbrella.

The upper side of cap is smooth, while its underside has radial lamellae or gills, which are relatively darker in colour. Neumerous tiny spores are produced on the gills and are ultimately released when they attain maturity.

Mushrooms are propagated using spores and/or small pieces of the fruiting body; this inoculum is generally called spawn. The method of cultivation of three commonly grown mushrooms is briefly described below