Benomyl and theVerticilliumdiseases of cultivated mushrooms

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Abstract
Verticillium fungicola (Preuss) Hassebrauk (= V, malthousei Ware) and V. psalliotae Treschow were isolated from diseased, commercially grown mushrooms (Agaricus bispoms (J. Lange) Imbach) in New Zealand where benomyl was used as the main method of control. In in vitro tests with benomyl, these isolates had low ED50 values (0.8-2.1 μg/ml, as determined by radial growth on agar) but high ED95 values (>500 μg/ml). Similar values were obtained for cultures isolated in New Zealand and Japan before the introduction of benomyl. ED50 and ED95 values were also determined for‘Delsene MX’ (84% mancozeb and 6.2% carbendazim). Although ED50 values were higher (7–13 μg/ml for V. fungicola, 5–14 μg/ml for V. psalliotae) than for benomyl, ED95 values were all V. fungicola and V. psalliotae obtained from diseased mushrooms after the introduction of benomyl were infective and were not controlled by benomyl.‘Delsene MX’ gave better control, but is not recommended for control of dry bubble because it may depress development of mushrooms.