Efficacy of Nematophagous fungi from button mushroom compost on the myceliophagous nematodes

Abstract

The nematophagous fungi, isolated and identified from button mushroom compost, were screened against three myceliophagous nematodes, Aphelenchus spp., Aphelenchoides spp. and Ditylenchus myceliophagus at five different inoculum levels i.e. at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 individuals of nematodes per plate. The number of trapped nematodes and their percentage were calculated. At different inoculum levels of myceliophagous nematodes, Aphelenchus spp., Aphelenchoides spp. and Ditylenchus myceliophagus, fungus, Helminthosporium spp. was found to be more efficient to kill the nematodes when compared to Trichothecium spp. and Geotrichum spp. The number of trapped nematodes increased with increasing inoculum of mycophagous nematodes in all the three nematophagous fungi. But, the maximum percentage of feeding was at 300 and 400 inoculum levels.