Substrate Decomposing Fungi of Mushroom and their Management by Some Common Fungicides

Substrate Decomposing Fungi of Mushroom and their Management by Some Common Fungicides

Four substrate decomposing fungi (Trichoderma harzianum, Papulaspora byssina, Sclerotium rolfsii and Penicillium chrysogenum) were isolated from the Pleurotus florida mushroom bed which were prevailing continuously in the growing season which cause severe yield losses of mushrooms in Eastern Plateau and Hill Region (EP&HR). An in vitro experiment was designed to see the effect of some common fungicides viz., Carbendazim, Mancozeb and Ridomil- MZ which are widely used in the mushroom cultivation were tested on 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1% concentrations to see the effect on substrate decomposing fungi and mycelial proliferation of P. florida. It was found that the Redomil-MZ showed strong antifungal efficacy against S. rolfsii, P. byssina and P. florida which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth at very low concentration (0.05%). Moreover, Carbendazim was also showing strong antifungal properties which inhibited >80% growth of the T. harzianum, P. byssina at the same concentration (0.05%). But P. florida, S. rolfsii and P. chrysogenum were unaffected against all the test concentrations. Mancozeb inhibits 100% growth of P. chrysogenum at all the test concentrations but the growth of P. byssina >80 growth was arrested at 0.05% but the mycelial growth of P. florida was also inhibited up to 30% at 0.1% concentration.