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MushroomZaid / summerSpawn (released strain)Updated 23 September 2026

APK-2 (Milky Mushroom)

A widely used milky mushroom strain released by Annamalai University (Tamil Nadu), valued for large, robust, milky-white mushrooms with thick stems and, unusually for a cultivated mushroom, genuinely good fruiting through the hot summer months.

SeasonZaid / summer
Maturity period3–4 weeks to first flush
Expected yieldBroadly comparable to oyster mushroom on a straw basis, with notably larger individual mushrooms
Suitable soilGrown on pasteurised paddy straw, not soil

Quick facts

Crop
Mushroom
Type
Spawn (released strain)
Season
Zaid / summer
Maturity period
3–4 weeks to first flush
Expected yield
Broadly comparable to oyster mushroom on a straw basis, with notably larger individual mushrooms
Suitable soil
Grown on pasteurised paddy straw, not soil
Release
Released and distributed by Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu

About this variety

APK-2 is a widely distributed and cultivated strain of milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) released by Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, distinguished by robust, thick-stemmed, milky-white mushrooms that hold up better in the heat and humidity of summer than most other cultivated mushroom species. Milky mushroom fills a genuine seasonal gap — it is grown on pasteurised paddy straw exactly like oyster mushroom, but is spawned to fruit through April–June, when both oyster and especially button mushroom struggle with excess heat.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSpawn (released strain)
    Maturity3–4 weeks to first flush
    Yield potentialBroadly comparable to oyster mushroom on a straw basis, with notably larger individual mushrooms
    Disease resistanceBred and selected for reliable fruiting in genuine summer heat where other cultivated mushrooms struggle
    SoilGrown on pasteurised paddy straw, not soil
    SeasonZaid / summer

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

3–4 weeks to first flush

Expected yield

Broadly comparable to oyster mushroom on a straw basis, with notably larger individual mushrooms

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

  • Bred and selected for reliable fruiting in genuine summer heat where other cultivated mushrooms struggle

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Genuinely fruits well through the hot summer months when oyster and button mushroom both struggle
  • Larger, more robust mushrooms with thicker flesh and a longer shelf life than most oyster mushroom types
  • Same simple straw-substrate cultivation method as oyster mushroom, with no compost step needed

Things to consider

  • Needs genuinely warm conditions (30–35°C) to fruit well — a poor choice for the cool winter months that suit button mushroom
  • Less widely known to urban buyers than oyster or button mushroom — building market awareness may take extra effort in a new area

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Tamil Nadu
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Odisha