Efficacy of some plant leaf extracts against weed fungi coming up during cultivation of oyster mushroom on sugarcane bagasse

The problem of weed and competitor moulds is one of the limiting factors in successful cultivation of oyster mushrooms in India (3, 5-8). Pesticides are less preferred in mushroom culture because of their limi-tations in health hazards. Recently, plant parts ex-tracts have been found highly inhibitory to the growth of weed and competitor moulds, growing on beds of oyster (Pleurotus spp.) and paddy straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea) (1-2, 4). In the present inves-tigation, an attempt was, made to evaluate some leaf extracts of locally available plants against undesirable fungi coming up during cultivation of oyster mush-room (Pleurotus florida) on sugarcane substrate. Sugarcane bagasse, trash and wheat straw were used as substrates for cultivation of.P. florida. One