The gastrointestinal health is very important aspect concerning human health. It refers to nutrient and vitamin absorption, food digestion and various infectious diseases. The Paecilomyces hepiali and Cordyceps militaris are highly enriched with cordycepin and ergosterol which are considered as anti bacterial substances. Present study finds out comparative effect of hot water extract of particular fungal material on growth of six species of gastrointestinal bacteria that belong to both aerobic and anaerobic and, consist with harmful and commensal categories. The appropriate concentration level of hot water extract of both strains was identified. The individual specific bacterial growing media were prepared and calculated; amounts of bacteria cultures were inoculated by using micro pipettes. The optical density and number of bacterial colonies were measured after 24 hours. The pure mycelial extract of P. hepiali with 2 × 10 −3 g/ml of concentration has significant effect on depleting the growth of E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus, L. gasseri and B. ovatus bacteria. B. longum has no significant effect by particular extract. Same type of extract of C. militaris has significantly reduced the growth of every bacteria used in this study. Hot water extract of C. militaris cultivated on soy bean has significant growth retardation toward E. coli, E. faecalis, S. aureus and L. gasseri. It has stimulated the growth of B. ovatus and B. longum which are considered as beneficial bacteria for human gut. This study shows that extracts of both mycelia include antimicrobial substances like cordycepin and ergosterol which can be used as food supplements to enhance human gut health.

Aims: Cultivation of oyster mushrooms has increased vastly in a global scale during last few decades. Contaminants and indigenous microflora present in the substrate may led to the low productivity of mushrooms. Keeping this in mind, the present study was under-taken with slight modification in substrate preparation technique to eliminate dust particles from the substrate and to assure contamination free mushroom production. Study Design: Comparative evaluation between modified approach and control beds. Place and Duration: The study was carried out in Shri Laxman Prasad Pyare Lal Agro Products, Ayodhya during 2017. Methodology: The wheat straw substrate was immersed in the drum containing tap water, mixing properly and allowed to stand for 10-15 min to settle down the dust particle in the bottom of the drum. After that, the floating substrate was transferred to the slant surface so that the extra water was decanted off. This substrate was put in to the steam sterilised gunny bag and steeped in the chemical solution consisting of Formaldehyde (500 ppm) and Bovistin (75 ppm) for 18 h. For the Short Communication

The present status of technological implementation for mushroom industry in Sri Lanka is expressed along this paper. It has been comparatively discussed with entire Japanese mushroom industry. Sri Lanka is a developing country located in south Asia. Almost all the mushroom cultivators in the country are growing Pleurotus ostreatus, Calocybe indica and Volvariella volvacea. These species are most preferred because they are not difficult to cultivate using the low cost cultivation method being practiced in the country. Mushroom cultivators are selling their product at prices ranging from LKR 240 (1.47) to LKR 430 (USD 2.63) per kg in 2017. Mushroom cultivation is not that popular in Sri Lanka. This may be, partly, attributed to lack of know-how, technological barrier and awareness on the economic, nutritive and medicinal benefits of cultivated mushrooms. Some of the major supermarkets do sell locally cultivated P. ostreatus and, Agaricus bisporus and Lentinula edodes mushrooms which are imported from the Republic of China and Thailand. At present, there are few private and government institutions which produce spawn and offer knowledge to the farmers. Their programs have been mainly focused on mushroom cultivation as a woman's household business; but the industry should be developed towards large scale commercial mushroom cultivation as well. This study is focused on main steps of mushroom production with some discussion and suggestion for increase production efficiency through technological advancement.

The exploration of the effects of pressure leads to new insights into the mycelial growth of Paecilomyces hepiali fungal strain. This strain has been generally accepted as true anamorph of wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis. It is only found at high altitude area like Himalayan plateau where atmospheric pressure is very low. Most of researches about P. hepiali and artificial mycelial cultivation have been done around mean sea level pressure. Then new experimental set up was developed and described. The apparatus permitted growth of mycelia under different pressure levels while other micro environmental conditions were carefully controlled. Potato dextrose broth was used as liquid media. As solid and semi solid media, sorghum base media and potato dextrose agar were prepared. Results of mycelial growth under hypobaric pressures and hyperbaric pressure were compared with mycelial growth of atmospheric pressure and hence growth influence has been shown. Specially, −100 mmHg treated sample showed significantly highest growth in both solid media and semi solid media. In semi solid media, −100 mmHg was not significant with other reduced pressure treatments. Meanwhile, −150 mmHg treated samples showed significantly highest mycelial growth of liquid media and −150 mmHg of pressure adversely affected on water contents of solid growing media. This may be an effect of pressure on enzymatic activities, protein and fatty acid of plasma membrane. As well as, pressure changes equilibrium of biochemical reactions, bond of some molecules and partial pressure of air molecules. Further molecular and biochemical researches are required to evaluate the possible stimulation of mycelial growth through hypobaric and hyperbaric treatments.

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