BIOCONTROL OF GREEN MOULD DISEASE OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (Pleurotus ostreatus) USING Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Abstract

The occurrence of Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum in cultivation of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) frequently results in serious crop losses and considerable inhibition of growth of mycelium and fruiting bodies of oyster mushroom thus lowering the yield substantially. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain isolated from groundnuts proved very effective in antagonizing the oyster mushroom pathogenic T. harzianum and T. asperellum without having a negative effect on P. ostreatus mycelia. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens produced diffusible and volatile organic compounds and this strain is a potential biocontrol agent for Trichoderma green mould due to the lack of antagonistic activity towards P. ostreatus mycelia. However, field studies on this isolate as substrate inoculant in oyster mushroom are required in order to establish its actual performance.