STUDIES ON INCIDENCE, PATHOGENICITY, BIOLOGY AND BIOMANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS ASSOCIATED WITH CULTIVATED MUSHROOMS
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2010
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Abstract
The present piece of research entitled “Studies on incidence, pathogenicity, biology and biomanagement of insect pests associated with cultivated mushrooms” was conducted to acquaint with the insect pest fauna of two commercially cultivated mushrooms viz. Agaricusbisporus and Pleurotussajorcaju. Abundance of insects belonging to orders Diptera and Coleoptera was recorded in both the mushrooms. In addition, spring tails and mites were also of common occurrence. Two genera of flies belonging to families Sciaridae and Phoridae registered their presesnce in two mushrooms. Of these, the most prevalent grayish black small fly with filiform antennae, typical sciarid wings, long legs with contiguous cozae and elongated abdomen, was identified as Sciarasp. (Diptera: Sciaridae). Looking into its wide distribution in distantly located units, this insect was selected as test insect for further studies. Megaselia sp. (Diptera: Phoridae) was observed in two locations only. Incidence of four genera of beetles viz., Cyllodesindicus, Scaphisomanigrofasciatum, Staphylinus sp. And Spondotriplaxpallidipes was also recorded. Of these, former three infested both the mushrooms but the last one was found to be present in P. sajorcaju only. Interestingly, despite its near cosmopolitan distribution in mushroom units of the state Sciarasp. has been reported for the first time in mushrooms from Himachal Pradesh. Similarly, S. pallidipes has never been recorded earlier from mushrooms in the world. Maggots of Sciara sp. and grubs as well as adults of the beetles fed voraciously on the mycelium and fruit bodies of the mushrooms which were highly susceptible to their menace. In addition, these insects also acted as carriers and disseminators of phoretic nematodes and mites. Natural population of Sciarasp. comprised of more number of females than males, former living longer than later. The peak population of Sciara was observed from March to May under Solan conditions. The developmental phase of Sciara from egg to adult was completed in 13.7 days in button mushroom as compared to 16.7 days in oyster mushroom. This fly inflicted heavy quantitative and qualitative yield losses to A. bisporus and P. sajorcaju; later being more susceptible than former. Quantum of damage was influenced by the factors like initial inoculum level, mushroom species involved and cropping stage at which infestation occurred. Infested fruit bodies wore inhealthy appearance. Among the various bioagents tested for their efficacy against the fly, the application of entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditisindica and/or Neem Seed Kernel Extract (NSKE) improved the sporophore yields of both the mushrooms as compared to control.
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##Unable to generate tags full thesis anurag.pdf, Mushrooms,insect pests,Management