Evaluation of Some Botanicals in Controlling Green Mold (Trichoderma harzianum) Disease in Oyster Mushroom Cultivation

Successful methods to control the damaging weed mold, Trichoderma harzianum (green mold) in mushroom beds are not presently known. The aim of the present study was to determine antifungal potentials of extracts of some selected botanicals against the infection of Green mold (Trichoderma harzianum) associated with the Pleurotus sp. cultivation. Eight botanicals namely Azadiracta indica, Allium sativum, Artemesia indica, Urtica dioeca, Lycopersicon esculentum, Datura stramonium, Mentha spicata and Juglans regia were evaluated in the laboratory for their efficacy against both Pleurotus mycelium and pathogen (Trichoderma harzianum), causing Green mold of mushroom. The efficiency of botanicals against Trichoderma was examined by poison food technique. The percent inhibition produced by botanicals against Trichoderma recorded in vitro, was: Azadiracta indica (34.1%), Allium sativum (28.4%), Artemesia indica (21.8%), Urtica dioeca (22.2%), Lycopersicon esculentum (17.4%), Datura stramonium (17.6%), Mentha spicata (20.8%) and Juglans regia (51.9%). Botanicals showing maximum efficacy against the pathogen and minimum inhibition against the mushroom were further evaluated against Trichoderma infection in mushroom house (in vivo test). In in vivo test, the polybags which receive Azadiracta indica show maximum mean increase in yield (32.8%) over control and exhibited minimum mean disease incidence (27.7%) than control. Ecofriendly management practice, i.e., use of botanicals 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.