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Sharad Shroff 1 and Chandrakanta Soni2
1DKS College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bhatapara, IGKV, Raipur (C.G)
2 Guru GhasidasVishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur (C.G)
Received-01.12.2025, Revised-12.12.2025, Accepted-28.12.2025
Abstract: Successive sub-culturing of mushroom strains may lead to physiological degeneration and yield instability. The present investigation evaluated the effect of successive culture generations on spawn performance, yield attributes, and biological efficiency of Volvariella volvacea (paddy straw mushroom). Five culture generations (G0–G4), derived from a single high-performing isolate, were assessed under controlled cultivation conditions. Parameters studied included mycelial growth rate on PDA, spawn colonization time, primordia initiation, yield components, biological efficiency, and contamination incidence. Early generations (G0–G1) showed faster colonization, lower contamination, and significantly higher yield and biological efficiency. Later generations (G3–G4) exhibited delayed spawn run, increased variability in fruiting behavior, and symptoms of physiological degeneration. The results demonstrate progressive loss of culture vigor with repeated sub-culturing and highlight the importance of limiting serial transfers. Adoption of systematic strain preservation and rejuvenation practices is recommended to maintain consistent productivity in commercial cultivation of V. volvacea.
Keywords: Volvariella volvacea, Paddy straw mushroom, Culture generation, Spawn quality
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