Management of green mould infestation in oyster mushroom crop (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) Kumm.) using plant extracts

Contamination of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) beds caused by green mold fungus Trichoderma harzianum. was attempted to manage using plant extracts. In vitro., maximum mycelial growth inhibition of 33.9 % and 59.5 mm growth of T. harzianum was recorded in neem leaf extract followed by karanj leaf extract (28.8% mycelial inhibition and 64.1 mm growth). Mycelial growth of P. ostreatus in neem leaf extract (84.5 mm) was statistically at par with karanj leaf extract (85.2 mm). Plant extracts showing maximum efficacy against pathogen and minimum inhibition against oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus) were further evaluated in mushroom house (in vivo.) to find out the yield performance of P. ostreatus. Spraying of 10 % neem leaf extract on the pasteurized paddy straw before spawning resulted minimum no. of days (28.2 days) for first harvest of mushroom with maximum fruit weight (11.5 g/fruit) followed by karanj leaf extract (29.9 days for first harvest of mushroom and fruit weight of 11.1 g/fruit). Maximum yield of mushroom (723.3 g/kg dry substrate) was also recorded in neem leaf extract followed by karanj leaf extract (705.5 g/kg dry substrate). Mushroom yield obtained in neem leaf extract and karanj leaf extract was statistically at par with each other. Carbendazim (0.1%) sprayed during spawning produced 525.0 g/kg dry substrate. Yield recorded in untreated bags were 200.5 g/kg dry substrate. Ecofriendly management practice i.e. use of plant extracts was studied both in vitro. and in vivo. which gave better results and these practices can be economical, long lasting and free from residual side effects.