Control of Verticillium fungicola on mushroom (07179)

Pathogenic fungi are a major problem in the cultivation of edible mushrooms, such as those of Agaricus bisporus (the white button mushroom). The most important pathogen of A. bisporus is Verticillium fungicola, causing dry bubble disease. During the last decade V. fungicola has become less sensitive to the only approved chemical (prochloraz) that is still effective to treat infection. Moreover, it is expected that prochloraz will be banned from commercial mushroom growing. Therefore, alternative strategies to control the disease are urgently needed. This proposal aims at using 1) antagonistic bacterial strains and/or 2) antifungals that are produced by A. bisporus. These approaches have so far not been used to prevent infection of A. bisporus with V. fungicola and could also be effective against other pathogens.