Management of Contaminant Mycoflora of Oyster Mushroom (var-Pleurotus florida) with Botanicals and GRAS Chemicals

Abstract

Contamination of Oyster mushroom (var Pleurotus florida) bed with harmful fungi Trichoderma harzianum and Aspergillus flavus caused complete failure of mushroom crop. Management of T.harzianum and A. flavus was investigated by using four botanicals plant extracts viz.,Neem, Tulshi, Boas and Methi seed @ 5%, 10% , 20% concentration and GRAS chemicals viz., Boric acid, Calcium chloride, Sodium bi-carbonate and Sodium chloride @ 1%, 3%, 5% concentration respectively along with control under in vitro condition. The result revealed that, Boric acid at 5% concentration showed higher inhibition on mycelial growth of both fungus viz., T. harzianum (86.3 %)and A. flavus (82.55 %)followed by boas Acorus calamus (51.44 , 50.00%) 20% respectively. Also, methi seed Trigonella foenumgraecum inhibited mycelia growth of A.flavus(43.66 %) at 20% as compared to other treatments at all the concentration. Under in vivo evaluation, the application of Boas @20%, Methi seed @20%, Boric acid@ 5% and Garlic (treated control) @4% concentration increased the yield of mushroom significantly, with highest recorded yield i.e. 0.714kg/bed by application of 20% boas extract ,which was at par with the yield treated with 4% garlic extract i.e. 0.691kg/bed, followed by Boric acid at 5% concentration i.e. 0.565kg/bed and Methi at 20% concentration i.e. 0.516kg/bed respectively. Two most promising botanicals, Acorus calamus and Trigonella foenumgraecum was found to minimize the infection of mold in Oyster mushroom beds both in vitro and in vivo treatments. Under in vitro trial boric acid was found most effective to control mold infection. However, in vivo trial revealed that maximum yield was obtained from the bed treated with Acorous calamus.