Vol. 7, Issue 4 (2018)

Author(s):
Shaheen Kousar, Farahanaz Rasool, Syed Aafia, Nighat Mushtaq and Naveena Nazim

Abstract:
An investigation was conducted to study the management of dry bubble disease of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) using twenty one different botanicals. The in vitro evaluation of leaf extract of twenty one different locally available plant extracts indicated that all the tested botanicals inhibited growth of the pathogenic fungus but Allium sativum, Metricaria sp., Phytolac sp., D. stromonium, M. alba and Conium maculatum exhibited maximum inhibition of mycellial growth with inhibition percentage of 100% per cent proved to be the best botanical. The test botanicals were highly effective at 3 per cent concentration. The integration of one or more of these botanicals reduced the disease to a level significantly lower than check and appreciably enhanced the early pinhead formation, weight and number of healthy fruit bodies and the ultimate mushroom yield, as comparedto check.