Eco-friendly Management of Sciarid Fly, Bradysia tritici on White Button Mushroom in Kashmir

In vivo efficacy of some botanica lextracts revealed that Azadirachta indica treatment was most effective among the four extracts tested against the larvae of sciarid fly, Bradysia tritici (Coq.) at 2.0 per cent concentration on white button mushroom under environmentally controlled mushroom house during 2006 and 2007. The overall order of their efficacy was A. indica, Chrysanthemum cinerierifolium, Artemesia absinthium and Ricinus communis. All the treatments showed significant reduction in larval population, per cent fruit damage and increase in the mushroom yield as compared to control. Highest reduction in larval population was recorded in 2^nd week and in combination treatments during both the cropping seasons. A. indica at 2.0 per cent concentration gave higher yield, lower larval population and lower fruit damage as compared to other test botanicals during both the seasons.