Commercial Culture of Cordyceps militaris from Waste Products of Sericulture in India

Abstract

Cordyceps militaris, an entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Ascomycota group are currently in the limelight for its synthesis of Cordycepin, – an anti-cancer component. The host range of Cordyceps is extremely broad, with predominance on the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera. Although this fungus is extremely rare in nature, its artificial culture is becoming more and more popular on the global market. However, the commercial culture of this fungus has been hampered by the difficulty in getting seeding material and the complex developmental technique. For ages, the silkworm (Order: Lepidoptera) has played a significant economic role in the food and silk industries of Asian nations. The waste product of the silkworm rearing process is the dead silkworm pupae, which are generated in large quantities after stifling of the cocoons for the purpose of producing raw silk. Waste from Sericulture in India has the potential to be used as a promising culture media for the growth of the Cordyceps-related sector, helping the silk farmers in their quest for future financial gain and the social advancement of the tribal society.