Solan, the 'Mushroom City' of India

With its tender stalk and gilled top fanned out into a dainty cap, the mushroom is neither the queen of vegetables nor holds a pride of place at a dinner setting. Jammed into a cheap plastic box and stacked in a corner, the humble mushroom is denied centre stage even on a vegetable rehri.

The Directorate of Mushroom Research, Solan, under the aegis of Indian Council of Agriculture Research, is the national reference centre for all mushroom-related issues in the country. Mushroom productivity has almost doubled, while production has achieved nearly six-fold increase in about four decades .

But this must change. Often dismissed as 'fungus', mushrooms hold a powerhouse of essential nutrients within their tiny structures and must be accorded their rightful place in dietary requirements.

Mushrooms belong to a group of basidiomycetous and ascomycetous fungi found ubiquitously in nature. Barring a few varieties, which are harmful, most are packed with large amounts of nutraceutical components, recognised for their nutritional value. They are rich in β-glucans, minerals such as iron and phosphorus, and vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, ergosterol, niacin and ascorbic acid. The most commonly consumed variety worldwide is the button mushroom, which is used as a vegetable.

Mushrooms also shine for their medicinal value. Many varieties have been proven to be effective in treating diseases and are known as speciality mushrooms. They have the potential to become a real component of traditional and evidence-based medicine, and are being used as anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotensive agents.

Despite their extensive nutritional and bioactive potential, mushrooms have remained underutilised. Specialty mushrooms are useful in treating various tumours, diabetes, metabolic disorders and autoimmune diseases. These may not be able to provide a radical cure, but are definitely useful in alleviating the chronic disease process, thereby enhancing longevity.

During Covid, their utility was realised to a great extent as mushrooms have potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases due to their low fat and high-fibre contents, besides being the foremost source of natural antioxidants.

The Directorate of Mushroom Research (DMR), Solan, under the aegis of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), is the national reference centre for all mushroom-related issues in the country. Mushroom productivity has almost doubled, while production has achieved nearly six-fold increase in about four decades in the country.

Solan was declared the ‘Mushroom City of India’ on September 10, 1997. The DMR-ICAR jointly organise an annual ‘Mushroom Mela’ on this day. Many mushroom growers, industry people and extension workers participate.

In India, mushrooms fall under food supplements category of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Both edible and medicinal mushrooms should be regulated by the FSSAI. However, until now, only β-glucans —  part of most fungi — and the extracts of shiitake and maitake are covered under the FSSAI. There is an urgent need to cover all 20 important mushrooms in its ambit. Recently, reishi mushroom also received ISO certification, but does not appear on the FSSAI list.

— Dr Jagdish Chander, former Professor and Head, Government Medical College Hospital, Chandigarh