Organic control of phytonematodes with Pleurotus species.

The nematicidal ability of Pleurotus ostreatus, P. florida and P. citronopileatus against phytonematodes of vegetables was determined in this study. Crude extract from Pleurotus spp., were tested against Pratylenchus, Xiphinema, Tylenchorhynchus, Tylenchus, Helicotylenchus, Ditylenchus, Psilenchus, Aphelenchus, Hoplolaimus, Longidorus, Aphelenchoides and Paralongidorus spp. Extracts from the fruiting bodies, mushroom waste and broth culture of Pleurotus species at four different concentrations and three time intervals were tested against the nematodes. Nematodes killed by the application of crude extracts of Pleurotus species never recovered to life after placing in simple water. P. citronopileatus was found more effective than other species and it killed 100% nematodes after 24 hrs followed by fruiting body extracts of P. florida 99% and waste of P. ostreatus 77%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]