Biological control of mushroom pests
Mushroom growers in Europe are faced with growing global competition and strict new legislation on the use of chemical pesticides. New integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are required for the sector to remain competitive. The EU-funded BIOMUSH (Early detection and bio-control of mushroom pests and diseases in an integrated pest management approach to comply with the European directive 2009/128/EU) project addressed this by developing an IPM strategy for Agaricus bisporus, the most common cultivated mushroom. Their integrated approach included sensors, biofungicides and biopesticides, as well as information resources for white button mushroom growers. A. bisporus is susceptible to several fungal diseases for which BIOMUSH has identified key biomarkers. These have been used to develop, build and test a biosensor for the early detection of fungal infections. Another aspect of project work involved examining 28 plant compounds for fungicidal and insecticidal properties. Promising compounds were pooled into general purpose biopesticides, which could control approximately 70 % of fungal infections. In addition to pest management research, BIOMUSH has developed guidelines and a training plan. These will assist mushroom growers in using the new tools. Emphasis was also placed on prevention of disease, which would increase profit margins by avoiding chemical application completely. The recent changes in pesticide legislation have threatened the success of European mushroom farms. However, by developing new tools and guidelines for IPM, BIOMUSH will help reduce losses and improve productivity in the mushroom sector.
Keywords
Biological control, mushroom pests, pest control, integrated pest management, BIOMUSH, biosensor
