Mushroom Society of India (MSI) was established in August 1990 at the headquarters of NCMRT-Solan (now the Directorate of Mushroom Research), with 10 founder members. Dr K.L. Chadha, the guiding force behind establishing and strengthening the country's mushroom research infrastructure, was the founder President of MSI.

In the same year, MSI began publishing the journal Mushroom Research, carrying quality papers on all aspects of mushroom science. Dr R.D. Rai was the first Editor-in-Chief of the journal. Dr B.L. Dhar was the Founder Secretary of MSI, and is credited with extending MSI's membership across India and abroad. Dr Dhar also organised the Indian Mushroom Conference in 1997, attended by delegates from across India and overseas; its proceedings were published as "Advances in Mushroom Biology and Production", edited by R.D. Rai, B.L. Dhar and R.N. Verma.

Since its inception, MSI has organised two International Conferences and two National Symposia. The Society's membership has since crossed 550 life members, 36 annual members, and 49 library members worldwide.

The Society was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (Reg. No. 60/91, dated 21.05.1991, Solan, HP).

Founding Objectives

• To bring mushroom researchers, development workers and growers together for the dissemination of scientific information.
• To bring out a Mushroom Research journal.
• To organise periodic symposia.
• To promote commercial mushroom cultivation.