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First Report of Rodent Damage during Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) Cultivation in Gujarat

Author: S.M. Chavan, C.D. Pandya, P.K. Modi and H.R. Jadav

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Abstract

The incidence of rodent in oyster mushroom was evaluated at mushroom entrepreneur located in Dist. Tapi (Gujarat) during 2022. The house rat, Rattus rattus Gray was found major pests by consuming both the substrate in mushroom bags and the spawn layers in low cost mushroom house in tribal villages. The rat damage was ranged between 7.49 to 12.30 per cent with an average of 8.95±1.64 per cent during incubation phase and 3.21 to 5.74 per cent with average of 4.77±0.94 per cent during fruiting phase. Incubation period was the most susceptible than fruiting phase. Significantly highest mushroom yield was observed in healthy bag (1.69 kg to 2.43 kg per bag with an average of 2.00 kg/bag) as compared to bags infested with R. rattus (1.01 to 1.43 kg with an average of 1.27 kg/bag). Significantly lowest days for total mycelium colonization (20.6 days), first harvest (27.2 days), harvesting period (25.2 days) and total crop cycle (47.4 days) was observed in healthy bags as against infested bags (24.2, 30.8, 29.2 and 52.4 days, respectively). Whereas, significantly lowest cap diameter (84.72 mm), stipe length (32.08), stipe thickness (7.0), number of effective fruiting bodies (6.8) and fruiting body bunch weight (54.4 g) was observed in rat infested bags as against healthy bags (96.56 mm, 38.66 mm, 9.8 mm, 9.6, and 66.0 g, respectively).

Keywords

House rat, Rattus rattus Gray, oyster mushroom, incubation, fruiting, yield, morphology

Conclusion

From the present findings it can be concluded that, house rat, R. rattus could be the major pests of oyster mushroomconsuming both the substrate in mushroom bags and the spawn layersin absence of specifically designed mushroom house. Incubation phase was the most susceptible than fruiting phase. House rat damage directly influences the yield performance, morphological parameters and characteristics of fruiting body of oyster mushroom.

References

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How to cite this article

S.M. Chavan, C.D. Pandya, P.K. Modi and H.R. Jadav (2024). First Report of Rodent Damage during Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus sp.) Cultivation in Gujarat. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(12): 65-69.