Sharma, ShivaniSimran2021-07-282021-07-282020Simran (2020). Use of bioinsecticides in compost for button mushroom cultivation (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810171026Agaricus bisporus is the most commonly cultivated edible variety in the world which possesses an ability to grow on agricultural wastes. Therefore, the present study has dealt with the use of pre botanical insecticides such as neem powder, vinegar, castor powder and two biological insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana to study its effect on mycelial growth of A. bisporus on PDA medium and wheat straw based compost. Maximum growth of 55mm and 29mm was recorded with neem powder on PDA and compost respectively. However, vinegar and Bacillus thuringiensis also showed significant mycelial run on PDA as well as compost. The natural insecticides were supplemented @0.5 to 4.5% (w/w) in ready compost and spawned @1.0% in compost. The supplementation of neem powder @1.5% showed significantly improved yield potential 43.40% and increased number of fruit bodies 37.55%. In case of castor powder (0.5 to 4.5% v/w), supplementation @ 4.5% (v/w) showed an increase of 23.22% in yield of button mushroom. An increase upto 20.23% and 46.42% in yield and fruit bodies was observed when vinegar was supplemented @2.5%. Bacillus thuringiensis supplementation @2.5% showed maximum yield potential 33.96%. Similarly, Beauveria bassiana was supplemented at a population of 3.4×107 cfu/ml @0.5- 4.5% (v/w) in compost which significantly improved the yield upto 14.44% and 12.62% when Beauveria bassiana was supplemented @1.5% and 0.5% at the time of spawning. Thus, it was concluded from our study that plant-derived products can be recommended to substitute for synthetic chemicals in the commercial production of edible mushrooms.EnglishThesis