Sustainable Management of Green Mold Disease of White Button Mushroom Using Botanicals and Biocontrol Agents under Temperate Conditions

Abstract

Green mold (caused by Trichoderma harzianum) is a destructive disease in mushrooms which limits commercial production. The present investigation was carried out to verify the in vitro and in vivo effect of locally available botanicals and bacterial biocontrol agents against this disease. The in vitro evaluation of ethanol extract of botanicals against mycelial growth of T. harzianum at 1, 2, and 3% concentrations showed that Juglans regia and Allium sativum exhibited maximum mycelial growth inhibition of 84.9 and 79.8%, respectively. When the same botanicals were tested against the mycelial growth of A. bisporus, it was observed that J. regia, Curcuma longa, and Azadirachta mellea were least inhibitory (4.66–7.4%). From the in vivo evaluation of plant botanicals at 2% concentration, J. regia and C. longa had the highest average weight (11.8–11.9 g) of a single fruit body and a combined button yield of 11.3–11.9 kg/quintal compost. Among the bacterial bioagents evaluated in vitro, Pseudomonas flourescens, Azotobacter sp., and Bacillus subtilis displayed stimulatory effects of varying degrees on the mycelial growth of A. bisporus but exhibited antagonistic effects on T. harzianum. B. subtilis-38, and P. flourescens-104. Azotobacter-108 caused the highest mycelial growth inhibition of 97.6, 97.4, and 90.3% of T. harzianum, respectively. The current study reveals that the integration of botanical and bacterial antagonists in pathogen-infested white button mushroom casing reduces green mold infection with corresponding yield gains.

Antifungal Activity of Industrial Bacillus Strains against Mycogone perniciosa, the Causative Agent of Wet Bubble Disease in White Button Mushrooms

“…The search for microbiocontrol possibilities of wet bubble pathogen is focused on antagonists isolating and use from the casing soil to which M. perniciosa shows sensitivity. [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. These studies do not use highly active industrial producer strains of polyfunctional biologics with fungicidal activity, which are B. subtilis B-10 and M-22 [ 21 ].…”

“…The interaction between the above producer strains B. subtilis B-10 and M-22 and the well-developed A. bisporus mycelium in the transition stage (popcorn-like generative forms appearing) does not negatively affect morphogenesis [ 20 , 23 ]. Furthermore, the new approaches to the production of polyfunctional biologics via the multibiorecycling of agricultural and industrial wastes have been developed based on a cenotic conception of biorecycling as an extension of the food chain and an expansion of the nutrition supply network [ 24 , 25 ].…”

“…The microbiocontrol of the white button mushroom wet bubble disease causative agent has not yet competed with chemicals authorized for use in champignon farming [ 12 ]. The most actively investigated topics are the ability of biologics to influence the microbiota that determine the deterioration of the basidioma habitus, as well as the mushrooms’ competitive biota, mainly from micromycetes with high toxin-forming activity [ 13 , 20 ]. So far, only collected Bacillus strains isolated from casing soil and possessing high antagonistic activity have been estimated to control white button mushroom diseases [ 20 , 21 ].…”

“…The most actively investigated topics are the ability of biologics to influence the microbiota that determine the deterioration of the basidioma habitus, as well as the mushrooms’ competitive biota, mainly from micromycetes with high toxin-forming activity [ 13 , 20 ]. So far, only collected Bacillus strains isolated from casing soil and possessing high antagonistic activity have been estimated to control white button mushroom diseases [ 20 , 21 ]. Thus, the microbiological control of white button mushroom diseases is not popular in its industrial cultivation, despite the fact that the use of natural protective mechanisms, manifesting in regulating pest population numbers via their antagonists, has recently become a priority in agricultural crop protection.…”

Sustainability of Mushroom Cultivation Systems

“…After the successful application of the sustainable, circular substrates, and mushroomcultivation waste reuse, it is also crucial to attend to the sustainable management of diseases, which unfortunately can touch every mushroom grower independently of how careful and precise the production is. This topic was touched upon by Altaf et al [13] in their research, where they investigated the sustainable management of green mold disease (Trichoderma harzianum) of white button mushroom using botanicals and biocontrol agents under temperate conditions. Their study revealed that the integration of botanical and bacterial antagonists in pathogen-infested white-button-mushroom casing reduces green mold infection with corresponding yield gains.…”