Seasonal Occurrence of Diseases on Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) in new Alluvial Region of West Bengal

Author: S. Patar, S.K. Ray, Tasvina R. Borah, A. Roy Barman, R. Mondal and S. Dutta

Download PDF

Abstract

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) offers an important opportunity for use as cheap and nutritious food for the human being. When growing oyster mushrooms, a variety of harmful mould fungi are found in the substrate and thereby adversely affecting spawn run, causing huge loss in commercial mushroom production. In the present investigation, attempts were made to identify different competitor moulds and their occurrence in relation to weather variables under the Gangetic alluvial region of West Bengal. One main disease (Green mould) and three minor diseases (Black mould - Mucor spp., Inky cap - Coprinus spp., and Yellow mould) of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) were noticed during the period of survey (2017-18). Black mould and Inky cap infestations were noticed during the monsoon and late monsoon periods. However Green mould disease was initiated during the last week of October and peak disease incidence was recorded during December- January. The incidence of green mould disease was significantly negatively correlated with T. max (r = -0.938**), T. min (r = -0.868**), average temperature (-0.926**). Rainfall, minimum and maximum relative humidity, showed a non-significant negative correlation with green mould disease incidence. Stepwise multiple regression equation revealed that maximum temperature was found to be an important predictor for green mould disease development. Black mould disease was significantly positively correlated with T.min (r = 0.696*), RH.max (r = 0.679*), RH.min (r = 0.807**), average RH (0.797*) and rainfall (r = 0.794*) whereas, maximum and average temperature showed a non-significant positive correlation with Black mould disease incidence.

Keywords

Green mould, yellow mould, black mould, inky cap disease, mushroom, weather variables

Conclusion

Mushrooms are healthy food for all age groups. Mushroom production is a lucrative avenue with less investments. Among other stress factors that hinder mushroom productivity, diseases cause substantial loss of yield. In the commercial mushroom farm (P. ostreatus) of Ghagharchar, Badkulla in Nadia district green mould was the main disease with as high as 35.42% disease incidence followed by black mould, inky cap and yellow mould with 4.92%, 7.25%, and 2.08% respectively. Green Mould disease was initiated during the last week of October and peak disease incidence was recorded during December-January. Whereas, yellow mould disease was observed during the dry season between January to April. Average temperature between 20-25°C was found to be an important predictor and could able to explain the variation of green mould disease incidence by more than 86 %. Combined weather variable i.e. Tavg*RHavg*Rf transformed was found to be an important predictor and could able to explain the variation of black mould disease incidence by more than 64 %. If the weather parameters are controlled and maintained at not favorable proportions for the mushroom disease incitants, the disease incidence could be kept at a minimum and yield loss could be managed. Round the year successful mushroom production provides nutritional security and improved livelihood for the growers.

References

-

How to cite this article

S. Patar, S.K. Ray, Tasvina R. Borah, A. Roy Barman, R. Mondal and S. Dutta (2023). Seasonal Occurrence of Diseases on Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) in new Alluvial Region of West Bengal. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8a): 541-548.