Chemical control of dry bubble disease induced by Verticillium fungicola [Preuss] Hassebr on white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporous

Dry bubble disease induced by Verticillium fungicola has been observed as an important disease of white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) in India. The symptoms produced on well differentiated fruit body are localized light brown depressed spots. The adjacent spots coalesce together to form irregular blotches. If the host pathogen infection is established before differentiation, sclerodermoid fruiting bodies appear on casing surface. All the four fungitoxicants tested in vitro by poisoned food technique inhibited the growth of V. fungicola and A. bisporus. Carbendazim gave highest percent growth inhibition of pathogen and host followed by Thiophanate-methyl, Dithane Z-78 and Dithane M-45. In all the fungitoxicants when tested in bed condition, Carbendazim was observed to be most effective in reducing the disease incidence   Key words: Agaricus bisporus, Verticillium fungicola, dry bubble, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, dithane Z-78 and dithane M-45.