IUB faculty member develops novel method to prevent fungal infection in mushroom cultivation

Mushroom cultivation has been expanding rapidly across both rural and urban Bangladesh. Yet, farmers often face one persistent challenge: fungal contamination.

To address this problem, Dr Jebunnahar Khandakar, an associate professor in the Department of Life Sciences at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has developed an innovative method to prevent fungal infections. After nearly three years of research and experimentation, she has designed a process that halts the spread of harmful fungi without compromising yield, while also ensuring safety for both the environment and human health.

"My aim was to create something that farmers can easily use. The yield remains intact while the risk of infection decreases significantly," said Dr Khandakar.

Spawn bags — plastic packets filled with substrate and mushroom seeds — are the foundation of mushroom cultivation. Substrate is a bed of organic matter, such as sawdust, rice straw, or other plant residues, that provides nutrients on which mushrooms grow. But once a bag becomes infected, the fungus can quickly spread to other bags, jeopardising the entire harvest.

Bangladesh's hot and humid climate makes substrates particularly vulnerable to fungal growth. Traditionally, substrates are sterilised through autoclaving or pasteurisation. However, if contamination appears afterwards, it is nearly impossible to control. Fungicides may offer temporary relief, but they also carry environmental and health risks.

Dr Khandakar's solution lies in using partially composted sawdust instead of untreated sawdust. In her method, 50 kilograms of dry sawdust is moistened to maintain 50 to 60 percent humidity, piled into stacks, and covered with jute sacks to keep internal temperatures within 50 to 60°C. The stacks are turned every three days, with water added if necessary. Within 9–12 days, the sawdust is converted into partially composted substrate.

This process reduces the amounts of free sugars in sawdust—nutrients that harmful fungi thrive on—while improving porosity, air circulation, and water retention. The result is a substrate environment favourable for mushroom growth but hostile to invasive fungi.

"In essence, I tried to mimic nature," Dr Khandakar explained. "Mushrooms naturally grow on partially decomposed organic matter. We recreated that environment in a controlled, scientific way."

Dr Khandakar earned her BSc and MS from Bangladesh Agricultural University. She completed her PhD at Nagasaki University, Japan, in 2014 and has been teaching at IUB since 2016. With nearly two decades of experience researching mushrooms, she conducted this latest work with support from the Mushroom Development Institute.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Dean of the School of Environment and Life Sciences at IUB, said, "For sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh, such innovations are crucial. If farmers adopt this method, it will boost their income, increase production, and contribute positively to food security. We are proud that university research is reaching the field."

Experts note that this method could reduce financial risks for farmers, ensure year-round sustainable cultivation, and stabilise prices in the market. As supply expands, consumers will benefit from easier access to this highly nutritious food, while cultivators will enjoy more secure livelihoods.