SUMAN, B.C.VIJAY, KUMAR2017-05-112017-05-112013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810010990ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Evaluation of various strains of Agaricus bisporus(Lange) Imbach” was carried out during 2011-2013 in department of plant pathology, Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). Ten strains of Agaricus bisporus, including control (U3) were undertaken to characterized, maintain, spawn preparation and production efficiency including other aspects like physiological studies and molecular characterization. Different solid and liquid media were tried for maintaining pure culture of these strains. Malt extract agar medium exhibited maximum mycelium growth rate and therefore was used for maintaining of cultures. The yield studies showed that strain DMRA-7 supported highest average yield followed by strains DMRA-37 and DMRA-102 and also exhibited better quality traits as compared to other strains. All the strains including control (U3) were taken for studying their physiological requirement in detail and four strains including control (U3) with higher production were taken up for molecular characterization . RAPD study revealed that primer OPP-3 and OPP-7 yielded maximum number of bands as compared to other primers. Similarity coefficient obtained from RAPD analysis revealed that similarity among all the selected strains ranged between 45 to 76 percent, with an average of 60 percent similarity. Among various liquid media studied glucose asparagines medium supported maximum average mycelia weight and in case of solid medium, malt extract medium supported maximum average colony diameter. The optimum temperature and pH for growth of different strains including control (U3) were found to be 25 o C and 6.5, respectively. Among carbon and nitrogen sources, best growth of different strains includingcontrol (U3) was recorded on maltose and proline, respectively on liquid as well as on solid media. The strain DMRA-7 can be recommended to mushroom grower for commercial cultivation as is shows superior yield as well as better morphological qualities than other including control (U3).ennullThesis