Journal of Farm Sciences

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation, particularly of Pleurotus eous, offers nutritional, economic, and environmental benefits but is severely constrained by pest infestations from sciarid (Bradysia tritici) and phorid (Megaselia sandhui) flies, causingyield losses up to 46%. Overreliance on chemical pesticides poses risks of residues, environmental contamination and pestresistance, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the efficacy of three entomopathogenicfungi (Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii) and four botanicals (neem cake, neem oil, eucalyptusleaf extract, tulsi leaf extract) against mushroom flies under Indian cultivation conditions, and assessed their effects on yieldand nutritional quality of P. eous.Experiments were conducted from November 2020 to January 2021 at JNKVV, Jabalpur,using a completely randomized design with three replications. Treatments were applied at spawning on sterilized wheat–soybean straw substrate. Pest populations (maggots, pupae, adults) were monitored externally and internally at spawn runand across three flushes. Yield (g/bag) and nutritive parameters (protein, ash, carbohydrate, moisture) were determined.Neemcake consistently recorded the lowest sciarid and phorid populations, with maggot and pupal reductions exceeding 65% andadult reductions up to 87% over control. B. bassiana performed comparably well among entomopathogens, reducing maggot populations by 31-37% and adults by 39-47%. Tulsi and eucalyptus extracts showed minimal efficacy. Neem cakealso achieved the highest yield (797 g/bag; 59.08% over control), followed by B. bassiana (778 g/bag; 55.28% over control). Protein (32.22%), carbohydrate (52.40%), and ash content (13.05%) were highest in neem cake treatments, while moisturepeaked with eucalyptus extract.The results demonstrate that neem cake and B. bassiana offer dual benefits of effectivemushroom fly suppression and enhanced yield and nutritional quality. Integrating these biorationals into P. eous cultivationcan provide a sustainable, pesticide-free approach to pest management and productivity enhancement in mushroom farming.