Effect of different leaf extracts for controlling microflora associated with Pleurotus citrinopileatus cultivation

摘要

An experiment was conducted with fresh leaf extracts of seven different plant species (Acalypha indica, Eclipta alba, Ocimum sanctum, Lawsonia alba, Vitex negundo, neem oil and Pongamia glabra) with different concentrations (3,4, 5 per cent) to evaluate their efficacy to control the associative microflora like Aspergillus niger, Gliocladium deliquescens and Coprinus sp. Ocimum sanctum and neem oil at all the concentrations were effective in controlling the moulds and resulted in early spawn run (13 days), increased weight of the sporophore per bed and higher biological efficiency of mushroom bed. Other leaf extracts resulted in enhanced biological efficiency at higher concentrations.