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Spent Pleurotus ostreatus Substrate Has Potential for Managing Fusarium Wilt of Banana

Summary

This research shows that spent mushroom growing material from oyster mushrooms can help protect banana plants from a devastating fungal disease called Fusarium wilt. The spent substrate contains beneficial compounds and microorganisms that suppress the harmful fungus both in laboratory tests and in potted plants. This provides an environmentally-friendly way to recycle mushroom waste while helping farmers manage crop diseases. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides organic farmers with a sustainable disease management tool • Enables beneficial reuse of mushroom cultivation waste • Helps protect banana crops that are important for food security • Reduces need for chemical fungicides in agriculture • Creates additional value from mushroom production

Background

Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) is a major threat to banana production worldwide. The pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) can survive in soil for decades through resistant spores. The white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus is the second most cultivated edible mushroom and produces spent substrate that has shown potential for suppressing plant pathogens. With increasing mushroom production in Uganda, the spent P. ostreatus substrate (SPoS) could potentially be used to manage FWB, though this had not been previously investigated.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the potential of spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrate (SPoS) to inhibit Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) both in vitro and in potted banana plants. The research evaluated the suppressive effects through laboratory experiments and greenhouse trials using both artificially inoculated sterile soil and naturally infested field soil.

Results

In vitro studies showed P. ostreatus suppressed Foc growth through competition and possible antibiosis mechanisms. Unsterilized SPoS filtrate significantly inhibited Foc growth even at low concentrations, while sterilized filtrate had no effect. In greenhouse trials, SPoS significantly reduced FWB severity in both artificially and naturally infested soils. The susceptible cultivar showed lower corm damage (1.25) when treated with SPoS compared to untreated controls (3.75). SPoS also promoted overall plant growth.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that spent P. ostreatus substrate has high potential as part of an integrated management approach for reducing Fusarium wilt of banana impact. Its application could enable effective recycling of crop wastes while improving crop productivity and reducing disease burden. As mushroom production increases in East Africa, this presents an environmentally sound and farmer-friendly option for sustainable FWB management.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Laboratory and Greenhouse Trial,
  • Source: 10.3390/jof7110946
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