Specificity, Seasonal Abundance and Management of Mites Associated with Commercially Cultivated Mushrooms in Kashmir Valley.

Survey was conducted at three places (RRL-Srinagar, Nishat, and MRTC-SKUAST-K) during different cropping seasons for the collection and identification of mites infesting mushrooms. Three mites were identified namely Parasitus nr. loricatus, Fuscoropoda and Glyptholaspis species. In case of seasonal abundance, mite population is directly correlated with temperature. Highest mite population i.e. 15.66 (Glyptholaspis sp.) and 17.00 (Fuscoropoda sp.)/20g of compost was found at 25oC. Lowest population was recorded at 15oC. Relative humidity did not influence the population. The order of efficacy of tested chemicals was as follows Dichlorvos> Ethion> Dicofol> Malathion> Chlorpyriphos. Dichlorvos gave hundred per cent morality for both the species (Glyptholaspis and Fuscoropoda) after the 4th day of application at 0.01 and 0.02 per cent concentration respectively in the laboratory. In the mushroom house complete control was achieved after 6th day of the application of Dichlorvos at 0.01 and 0.02 per cent concentration for Glyptholaspis and Fuscoropoda species, respectively. Eithon also gave the hundred per cent mortality (laboratory conditions) after 5th and 6th day of application against the mite species at 0.04 per cent concentration, while in mushroom house complete control was achieved 7 days after the application of ethion for both the species at 0.02 per cent concentration. The efficacy of tested botanicals was in the order of sweet worm wood > Walnut>Indian May apple>Lavender>Dharek>Belladona>English Yew>Castor> Deodar. Sweet worm wood gave hundred per cent mortality at 6 per cent concentration for both the species of mites (Glyptholaspis and Fuscoropoda species) after 6th day of application in the laboratory. In mushroom house 93 and 92 per cent mortality was recorded after 7th day of application of sweet worm wood leaf extract at 6 per cent concentration in case of Glyptholaspis and Fuscoropoda species respectively. Walnut hull extract also provided 100 per cent morality at 6 per cent concentration for both the species after 7th day of application in the laboratory studies while 82.50 per cent (Glyptholaspis sp.) and 80.80 per cent (Fuscoropoda sp.) mortality was recorded after 7th day of application in the mushroom house at 6 per cent concentration. The pesticides as well as botanicals evaluated in the present studies were found non-deleterious to the mushroom mycelial growth. There was no significant difference between the colony diameters of tested chemical/ botanicals and control treatments during laboratory studies. Colony diameters in case of Eithon and Dichlorvos were 87.33 and 87.00 mm after 15 days of inoculation while in case of control treatment it was 89.00 mm. In case of Sweet worm wood and walnut the colony diameter recorded was 87.00 mm after 15 days of inoculation