Status of mushroom nematodes and their management in India.

Abstract

Mushrooms are grown in almost all parts of India and the annual production is approximately 40,000 t. Several species of naturally occurring edible mushrooms are being harvested and consumed locally in tribal and interior forest areas. However, commercially only white button and oyster mushrooms are popular. They are being cultivated under semi-scientific conditions (use of partially sterilized media and casing soil, use of implements, container etc. seldom treated with formalin, etc.) with limited inputs. Other biotic stresses, such as fungi, bacteria, insects and nematodes, cause heavy losses. Hence, the commercial productivity is much less than that of other countries. Button mushrooms are generally highly susceptible to nematode infection while oyster mushrooms are relatively resistant. Although several nematode control methods have been worked out, under Indian conditions maintenance of hygienic production conditions, prophylactic (sterilized production substrates, containers, implements, gloves, etc.) and use of plant products (leaves, non-edible oil cakes of neem, pongamiya, castor, etc.) were more successful in minimizing nematode damage to mushrooms and maximizing the yields. In this review the status of mushroom nematodes, their management and future thrust areas suitable to India conditions have been discussed.