Evaluation of some plant extracts in management of dry bubble (Verticillium fungicola) disease of white button mushroom [Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach]

The study was undertaken to determine antifungal potentials of some plant extracts against dry bubble (Verticillium fungicola) disease of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Twelve botanicals namely, Allium cepa, A. sativum, Saraca asoca, Aloe vera, Azadirachta indica, Lantana camara, Ocimum sanctum, Solanum lycopersicum (Lycopersicon esculentum), Tagetes erecta, Psidium guajava, Catharanthus roseus and Aparagus racemosus were evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo for their efficacy against both A. bisporus and V. fungicola, causing dry bubble disease of mushroom. The efficacy of botanicals was examined by poison food technique in in-vitro. The percent inhibition produced by botanicals against V. Fungicola recorded in-vitro was; A. cepa (25.87%), A. sativum (24.70%), S. asoca (12.35%), A. vera (22.35%), A. indica (35.11%), L. camara (28.48%), O. sanctum (20.59%), S. lycopersicum (20.34%), T. erecta (14.11%), P. guajava (15.11%), C. roseus (18.11%) and A. racemosus (13.52%). Among these plant extracts, A. indica was found best treatment followed by L. Camara and A. Cepa. Plant extracts showing maximum efficacy against V. fungicola and minimum inhibition against mushroom were further evaluated against V. fungicola infection in mushroom crop room (in-vivo test). In in-vivo test, the polybags which receive A. indica show maximum mean increase in yield (43.46%) over control and exhibited minimum mean disease incidence (27.7%).