In vitro and in vivo biological control of the green mold using different bacteria in button mushroom cultivation

Abstract Background Aggressive biotype ( Trichoderma aggressivum f. aggressivum ) of green mold is one of the main biotic factors limiting button mushroom ( Agaricus bisporus ) cultivation. Due to issues such as fungicide resistance, cost, and adverse effects, biological control seems to be an applicable management method against the green mold in button mushroom cultivation. Results The objective of the study was to assess biological control of green mold in button mushroom cultivation. Five native bacterial isolates from mushroom compost and 3 commercial biological preparations were tested against two isolates of T. aggressivum f. aggressivum . Dual culture tests were used in vitro experiments. In vivo , compost and casing soil experiments were conducted by comparing yield values of treated plots with negative and positive controls. In vitro , the bacterial isolates inhibited mycelial growth of isolates of T. aggressivum f. aggressivum and A . bisporus up to 46.60 and 56.94%, respectively. In vivo , in the compost experiment, compared with positive control plots, bacterial isolate MSG-5 ( Bacillus subtilis ) caused the highest yield increase (40.56%) in the treatments. In the casing soil experiment, commercial biological preparation Tic-3 ( Ampelomyces quisqualis ) caused the highest yield increase (36.15%) in the treated plots. Compared with positive and negative controls, all the treatments caused 30.23% increase but 4.86% decrease in yield of A . bisporus in the compost experiment, respectively. However, they caused 20.25% increase but 17.33% decrease in the yield of A . bisporus in the casing soil experiment, respectively. Conclusions Results suggested that biological control of the green mold in compost can be more efficient than casing soil in button mushroom cultivation.