The Sunday Tribune, Chandigarh, India, July 28, 2002

Breakthrough in exotic mushroom cultivation

our correspondent solan, july 27

The National Research Centre for Mushrooms of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, here has made an important breakthrough in the cultivation of an exotic mushroom, Reishi (Gano-derma Lucidum), described as a fungi of longevity or immortality. The fungi, with its highly-rated medicinal properties, commands a world trade of $ 4 billion, was hitherto grown mainly in China, Japan, Korea and a few other South East Asian countries. It was for the first time that Reishi had been cultivated in India . The Centre Director, Dr. S. R. Sharma, accompanied by Dr. R. D. Rai, a senior scientist responsible for the successful cultivation of Reishi at the institute, today showed to local media persons its laboratories where this blood-coloured fungi was growing profusely.

Later, Dr. Rai, who addressed a press conference, said researches made across the globe had established that Reishi was endowed with anti-cancer, anti-HIV, anti-Hepatitis B, anti-tumour, anti-histamine release, and anti-stress properties. It also helped combat platelet aggression and keep the heart in good shape. Above all it strengthens the human body's auto-immune system.

He said a US company was currently selling a 100-mg capsule of Reishi at one dollar each while a Chennai-based Malaysian company was selling a 220-mg capsule for Rs 12 each without being able to meet the demand in full.

The demand, in fact, was bound to rise with the increasing awareness of the mushroom's medicinal qualities.

Dr. Rai said the cultivation of Reishi in India could prove to be highly beneficial for the mushroom growers in the country. The present annual world production of this mushroom was estimated at 6000 tonnes with China alone contributing 4000 tonnes. India with its strategic advantages could easily outstrip China in Reishi production in the near future as the requisite technology would be made available to cultivators shortly.

He said yields of up to 400 gm per kg of saw dust (used as a base for growing Reishi had been recorded in his laboratory. This yield rate was equal to and in many cases better than elsewhere in the traditional Reishi growing countries. Also the cultivation had been done organically with no use of chemicals.

He said the technology could not be extended to growers immediately as his application for patent rights was still pending.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, India, July 18, 2002

India Claims Breakthrough in Mushrooms

Ashok B. Sharma & Rohit Bansal New Delhi Sep 17

Scientists have reported a "first-ever" on red Reishi mushrooms. In a brief, circulated to key government functionaries this week, the Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) has claimed that it has cracked the organic farming of this highly valued medicinal variety at a national research centre in Solan. DARE has described the red Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum), as the "most important medicinal mushroom" in the world. It has claimed that "yields of this first report (of success) from India can compare with international competitors." The report cites that the global market of mushrooms is around $ 1.2 billion and growing.

Indeed, some optimistic projections of the global market for all categories of "pumped up foods" put together are in the region of $700 billion. The red Reishi (see picture) has deep roots in Chinese and Korean medicinal systems. Minnesota-based Institute of Natural Products Research cites its benefits in cases of high cholesterol, fatigue, debility; liver treatment in diabetes, protection from;; altitude sickness, maintenance and restoration of immune functions in immuno-compromised individuals and prevention of arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries).

Speaking to FE (Financial Express), Dr. R. D. Rai of the National Research Centre for Mushroom (NCRM), Solan, claimed that his research team has developed a seed variety that suits cultivation requirements in India and has the necessary technology package for growers. Dr. Rai said the effort is indigenous and it took five years. The world's supply of red Reishi mushrooms comes from China , Malaysia and the Philippines . Had the government made arrangements with these countries for transfer of the technology, the research period could have been much less, Dr. Rai mentioned.

NCRM Director, Dr. R. P. Tiwari, said red Reishi technology will be released for commercial cultivation by December this year. Bids will be invited for seed companies and nurseries to avail of the opportunity. Dr. Tiwari said he is willing to transfer the technology free of cost to farmers, if the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) permits. "The decision, he said, rests with ICAR."

ICAR Deputy Director-General (Horticulture), Dr. G. Kalloo said, "it is due to the red Reishi's medicinal value that the apex body told NRCM to take up a project on developing seeds and the technology for its adaptation on a commercial basis.

ICAR Deputy Director-General (Crop Sciences), Dr. Mangia Rao said that with this success, efforts are now underway so that Indian farmers are able to grow this crop on a large scale.

Author Ron Teeguarden, in his Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs, has described the red Reishi as "the most widely used symbol of longevity and a common symbol in the art of China and Korea ." He has argued that "we are fortunate to have herbs like the Reishi mushroom accessible to us and it is unfortunate that most people in the West do not even know that the herb exists."