Sensitivity and efficacy of fungicides against wet bubble disease of Agaricus bisporus caused by Mycogone perniciosa

Abstract

Agaricus bisporus (Lange) Imbach is the most widely cultivated mushroom globally. Wet bubble disease (WBD), mainly caused by Mycogone perniciosa, is a major threat to A. bisporus production worldwide. In the current study, it was expected to select safe fungicides that can successfully control WBD on mushroom due to the biological similarity of A. bisporus and M. perniciosa. The in vitro sensitivity of 24 M. perniciosa isolates and five A. bisporus isolates to 26 different fungicides were tested. The control efficacies of 13 fungicides against WBD and their effects on A. bisporus were also determined in the field. The mean EC50 values of the fungicides on M. perniciosa isolates ranged from 0.0020 to > 100 µg/ml (P 100 µg/ml) to these fungicides. Apart from thiophanate-methyl and prochloraz-manganese, hymexazol, trifloxystrobin, fluazinam, fludioxonil, diniconazole, fenbuconazole, imazalil, mancozeb and iminoctadine trialbesilate showed good potential for the control of WBD in vitro sensitivity test. In field trials, prochloraz-manganese and thiabendazole continued to be useful to manage WBD and little effect on mushroom. Fludioxonil, diniconazole, imazalil and fenbuconazole at high doses exhibited better control of WBD and greater yields than other fungicides. And importantly, more rigorous fungicide application and novel cultural strategies are needed for management of WBD with high-quality A. bisporus.