Pesticides and Phytomedicine / Pesticidi i fitomedicina

Penicillium expansum, P. crustosum, and P. paneum cause blue mold of sugar beet roots in Serbia

Nataša Duduk — 2026-02-06

In this study, three Penicillium species, P. expansum, P. crustosum, and P. paneum, were identified in sugar beet roots with blue mold collected at harvest and from overwintering roots, marking a novel finding for Serbia. Notably, our study is the first to document P. crustosum as the causal agent of blue mold in sugar beet in the world. Pathogenicity tests on artificially inoculated sugar beet roots confirmed that all Penicillium isolates can induce rot, with P. expansum demonstrating the highest virulence, followed by P. crustosum and P. paneum. As Penicillium species are important postharvest pathogens linked to decay, economic losses, and mycotoxin contamination, further research into their postharvest presence and impact is essential. This study presents the first analysis of Penicillium spp. on sugar beet in Serbia, aimed to characterize isolates both molecularly and morphologically, and to evaluate their pathogenic potential as postharvest pathogens. The results contribute to the current knowledge of Penicillium species capable of colonizing sugar beet roots, and expand our understanding of Penicillium spp. diversity and distribution in Serbia.

Interactions among biocontrol agents in the management of Lycoriella ingenua and Trichoderma aggressivum on white button mushrooms

Jelena Luković — 2026-02-06

Relationships (synergistic/antagonistic/additive) among three biocontrol agents — the native antagonistic bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens B-241, the yield-stimulating actinobacterium Streptomyces flavovirens A06, and a commercial strain of entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae — were investigated for the purpose of evaluating their effects on the suppression of artificially inoculated green mould disease agent Trichoderma aggressivum f. europaeum T77, as well as the suppression of natural infestation of the fungus gnat, Lycoriella ingenua, in an experimental growing chamber of cultivated white button mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Biocontrol agents were applied at standard application rates, or reduced rates of 40% or 20%. The impact of biocontrol agents and their interactions on mushroom productivity was calculated as the ratio of the fresh weight of the total mushroom yield to the weight of the dry spawned substrate. The density of the fungus gnat flies was monitored by using yellow sticky traps placed inside each insect-rearing cage with mushroom substrate. The evaluation of disease and pest control efficacy was based on disease and pest incidence in the inoculated control and treatment groups. Simultaneous application of three biocontrol agents revealed mild antagonistic interactions in their efficacy in green mould disease control, an antagonistic relationship in the control of the fungus gnat, while synergy was detected regarding their impact on mushroom yield. The results of this study suggest that each biological agent should be applied three times every seven days to provide efficient pest and disease control: entomopathogenic nematodes used individually at the first day after the casing time (S. feltiae 0.75 × 10⁶ IJ m^-2, total amount 2.25 × 10⁶ IJ m^-2), and beneficial microorganisms used combined a few days later (B. amyloliquefaciens 1 × 10⁹ CFU ml^-1 m^-2, total amount 3 × 10⁹ CFU ml^-1 m^-2, and S. flavovirens 1 × 10⁸ CFU ml^-1 m^-2, total amount 3 × 10⁸ CFU ml^-1 m^-2).

Efficacy of biofungicide Bacillus subtilis Ch-13 in the suppression of Hypomyces odoratus (cobweb disease) in a large-scale white button mushroom production

Biljana Todorović — 2026-02-06

More frequent application of the biofungicide Bacillus subtilis Ch-13 enhanced its efficacy against natural infestation of Hypomyces odoratus (cobweb disease) in white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), as well as its positive impact on mushroom production. In two different application procedures, strain B. subtilis Ch-13 was used at a final concentration of 60 ml per m²of casing layer (1 × 10⁸ CFU ml^-1). In comparison to the low efficacy of the fungicide prochloraz (53%), optimal efficacy of B. subtilis Ch-13 in the suppression of H. odoratus was recorded. Substantially higher efficacy of this biofungicide in cobweb disease control was achieved when it was applied in three split doses (42%), rather than two (30%), in the large-scale production of white button mushrooms. The greatest improvement in white button mushroom production, in comparison to the untreated control, was achieved when B. subtilis Ch-13 was applied in three split doses (biological efficiency, BE=15%), rather than two (BE=7%). For suppression of the mycopathogen H. odoratus on white button mushrooms, this study supports the application of the biofungicide B. subtilis Ch-13 in three split doses of 30 + 15 + 15 ml m^-2 on the second day after casing, two weeks after casing, and after the first fruiting flush, respectively.

Biofungicide Bacillus subtilis Ch-13 in the control of Hypomyces perniciosus (wet bubble disease) in industrial-scale mushroom cultivation

Ivana Potočnik — 2026-02-06

The current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the biofungicide Bacillus subtilis Ch-13 in the suppression of natural infection of white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) with Hypomyces perniciosus (causal agent of wet bubble disease), as well as its impact on mushroom yield in industrial-scale cultivation. The biofungicide B. subtilis Ch-13 was applied at a total concentration of 60 ml per m²of casing layer in two different procedures — using either three (30 + 2 × 15 ml m^-2) or two split doses (2 × 30 ml m^-2) — and then its effects were compared to those of the fungicide prochloraz applied at a standard application rate. The efficacy of the biofungicide was significantly higher when applied in three split doses (29.7%), than in two (15.7%). Though the efficacy of B. subtilis Ch-13 (≈30%) against H. perniciosus was low in comparison to that of prochloraz (≈68%), B. subtilis Ch-13 slightly reduced wet bubble symptoms. Furthermore, the highest increase in mushroom yield was achieved when B. subtilis Ch-13 was applied in three split doses (14%), rather than two (2%), compared to the untreated control. In comparison to prochloraz, three and two split applications of B. subtilis Ch-13 enhanced mushroom yield by up to 17% and 4%, respectively. Regarding its efficacy in wet bubble disease control and augmentation of mushroom yield, B. subtilis Ch-13 was much more effective when applied in three split doses, than in two. Therefore, this study supports the application B. subtilis Ch-13 in three split doses (30 + 2 × 15 ml m^-2, on the second day and two weeks after casing, and after the first fruiting flush, respectively) to suppress H. perniciosus and increase mushroom yield.