Potential of Oyster Mushrooms for the Biocontrol of Sugar Beet Nematode (Heterodera Schachtii)

Abstract

Potential of Oyster Mushrooms for the Biocontrol of Sugar Beet Nematode (Heterodera Schachtii)The potential of oyster mushrooms to attack and kill sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii) was studied. The ability ofPleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju, P. florida, P. flabellatus, P. ostreatus(sporeless),P. eryngiiandHypsizygus ulmariusto prey on the cyst nematode was confirmed. Nematodes were inoculated on water agar plates on which a single sparse fungal colony of one of the above mentioned fungi was grown. Nematodes were quickly immobilized after inoculation the plates with eachPleurotusspecies, with mortality of about 96%, 72%, 55%, 52%, 20%, 23% and 62%, respectively. Nematicidal activities of culture filtrates ofPleurotusspecies andH. ulmariusagainstH. schachtiiwere also studiedin vitro.Extracts ofP. ostreatuscould paralyse 90% of nematodes whereasP. eryngiicould paralyse only 50% of nematodes. The efficacy of old mushroom compost from cultures ofP. ostreatusandP. sajor-cajuin controlling cysts on sugar beet (Beta vulgarisICI) were studied under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that 100 and 200 grams of mushroom compost per 3 kilogram/pot could significantly control cysts, reducing more than 85% cysts in soil. Presence of cysts on the roots and larvae inside roots were compared with the control treatment.