Mushroom Laboratory
MBUST LABORATORY
Mushroom Laboratory
The Mushroom Laboratory aims to domesticate wild edible and medicinal mushrooms and optimize their cultivation for sustainable, pesticide-free production. It seeks to analyze the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of indigenous mushrooms to support nutraceutical and healthcare product development.
The lab also focuses on exploring antimicrobial properties, biological pest control, and in silico assessment of mushroom-derived compounds for innovative drug design and agricultural applications.
- Domestication of wild edible mushrooms for commercial cultivation
- Nutritional analysis of mushrooms for nutraceutical development
- Optimization of substrate for higher yield of mushroom
- Antimicrobial potential of wild mushrooms for skin care products
- Biological control of insect pests and mushroom diseases
- Organic mushroom farming
- Application of endomycorrhizal fungi for higher crop yield and disease resistance
LEADERSHIP
Laboratory In-charge
Dr. Bhushan Shrestha, Associate Professor
Organic Agriculture Program
INFRASTRUCTURE
Major Instruments
Freezer
Dual Chamber Freezer (-20°C and 4°C)
Electronic balance (4 digit)
Biosafety Cabinet
Multi-Mode microplate reader
Automatic Kjeldhal nitrogen analyzer instrument with complete system
Flame photometer
Fibre extractor
Fat extractor
Muffle furnace
RESEARCH OUTPUT
Completed Research in Mushroom Laboratory
Extraction of Natural compounds from medicinal mushrooms of Nepal and development of health care products.
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Prof. Shin-Yee Fung
Researcher: Mr. Atmaz Kumar Shrestha
Completion date: July 2025
Funded by: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) under the Science, Technology and Innovative Program Grant procedure 2081
RESEARCH PIPELINE
Ongoing Research in Mushroom Laboratory
Study on antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential of wild mushrooms of Nepal for healthcare product development
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Prof. Shin-Yee Fung
Researcher: Mr. Atmaz Kumar Shrestha
Date of initiation: 2023
Funded by: MBUST
Taxonomic study, nutritional analysis, and domestication of wild edible mushrooms found around the Chitlang area
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Kentaro Hosaka
Researcher: Mr. Suraj Chaudhary
Date of initiation: 2023
Funded by: MBUST
Bioactivity and in silico assessment of the indigenous medicinal mushrooms of Chitlang for potential drug design
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Kentaro Hosaka, Dr. Jhasanath Adhikari Subin
Researcher: Mr. Saugat R.C.
Date of initiation: 2024
Funded by: MBUST
Growth optimization and nutritional analysis of Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) and Shitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Buddhi Ratna Khadge
Researcher: Mr. Nitesh Khatiwada
Date of initiation: 2024
Funded by: MBUST
Growth optimization and nutritional profiling of Ganoderma sp. (Reishi) and Auricularia sp. (Wood ear) mushrooms
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Geeta Shrestha Vaidya
Researcher: Mr. Prabin B.C.
Date of initiation: 2024
Funded by: MBUST
Optimization of compost for higher yield of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Bhushan Shrestha
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Buddhi Ratna Khadge, Assoc. Prof. Ajay Kumar Jha
Researcher: Ms. Pukhana Thapa
Date of initiation: 2025
Funded by: MBUST
Students Involved in Research
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Atmaz Kumar Shrestha - Medicinal mushrooms (atmaz.kumar.shreatha@mbust.edu.np)
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Suraj Chaudhary - Edible mushrooms (suraj.chaudhary@mbust.edu.np)
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Saugat R.C. - Medicinal mushrooms (saugat.rokaya.chhetri@mbust.edu.np)
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Nitesh Khatiwada - Mushroom cultivation technology (nitesh.khatiwada@mbust.edu.np)
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Prabin B.C. - Mushroom cultivation technology (prabin.bc@mbust.edu.np)
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Rukshana Thapa - Substrate optimization technology (rukshana.thapa@mbust.edu.np)
Our Collaborators
Indreni mushroom farm, Chitlang
Ares Mushroom Farm, Thankot
University of Malaya, Malaysia
Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Singadurbar Plaza
Nepal Plant Disease and Agro Associates, Balaju, Chakrapath