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Genus Ditylenchus Filipjev
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Diiylenchus myceliophagus
Goodey, 1958, the Mushroom Nematode
Diiylenchus
myceliophagus Goodey, 1958, the Mushroom Nematode
The species is
of considerable economic importance in mush room cultivation. Prior to
1958, the nematode encountered in mushrooms was recognized as D.
destructor. Later it was found that it is an altogether different
species and subsequently described as D. mycfliophagus. It is
commonly encountered in all the mushroom cultivations and it has been
estimated that populations as low as 3 nematodes/100 g compost, at
spawning, can reduce yields by about 30 per cent. At a population level
of 20, 100 -and 300 nematodes/100 g at casing, there is a yield
reduction of 50, 68 and 75 per cent respectively. More than 20
nematodes/100 g compost can prevent cropping.
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The
nematode is similar to D. destructor but differs in certain
morphological features like the length of post-vulva! sac and length
of the oesophageal overlap on ^ the intestine. However, under
periods of starvation, body length as well as other morphological
measurements may get altered. The nematode is a migratory parasite
and destroys the mycelium of the cultivated mushrooms. Temperature
has an important bearing on the life cycle duration. It takes 40
days at 13°C and 21 days at 23DC108,1M.
At temperatures less than 13°C, there is very little development of
the nematodes and it has been suggested that mushrooms can be
successfully cropped under cool conditions, However, it does not
appear to be an economically viable method.
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As mushroom
cultivation is of short duration and also is a perishable commodity, use
of chemicals is general, not advocated for fear of residues. Biological
control offers a possible method of reducing nematode populations. A
predatory Hyphomycete, Anhrobotrjs rabusta, strain Qntipolts
has been employed to reduce nematode populations. It can be grown
along with the mushroom and has been recorded to reduce nematode
populations by 40 per cent and increase mushroom yields by 20 per cent.
The predatory fungal preparation is being marketed under the commercial
name Royal 300.
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