MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Inhibitory Effects of Origanum vulgare Essential Oil on Mycogone perniciosa Growth in Agaricus bisporus Cultivation

Summary

A new study shows that oregano essential oil can effectively prevent and treat wet bubble disease in button mushrooms, a fungal infection that costs farmers millions in crop losses. The oil works better than conventional chemical fungicides and contains powerful antifungal compounds like carvacrol and thymol. When applied at the right time, oregano oil completely stopped the disease from developing while maintaining healthy mushroom yields. This natural solution could help organic mushroom farmers reduce their reliance on synthetic chemicals.

Background

Mycogone perniciosa causes wet bubble disease in Agaricus bisporus (button mushrooms), resulting in significant production losses globally. Synthetic fungicides are commonly used but present toxicity concerns and potential resistance development. Essential oils from plants like Origanum vulgare show promise as natural antifungal alternatives.

Objective

To evaluate the in vitro and in situ antifungal potential of Origanum vulgare essential oil against M. perniciosa isolates from button mushrooms. The study also aimed to characterize volatile components of the oil and assess its efficacy compared to commercial fungicides.

Results

O. vulgare essential oil showed superior antifungal activity compared to commercial Prochloraz-Mn fungicide with MIQ values of 0.1-2.0 µL/disc versus 5.0 µL/disc. In situ trials showed complete inhibition of M. perniciosa when oil was applied simultaneously with pathogen inoculation, maintaining yields comparable to untreated controls. Carvacrol (50.44%), p-cymene (17.54%), γ-terpinene (8.52%), and thymol (7.55%) were dominant constituents.

Conclusion

O. vulgare essential oil demonstrates promising potential as a natural biofungicide for controlling M. perniciosa in button mushroom cultivation, particularly for organic production systems. Further research on antifungal mechanisms and optimized delivery methods is warranted to establish this as a commercial alternative to synthetic fungicides.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40985426, DOI: 10.3390/jof11070515
Scroll to Top