Management & Characterization of Tyrophagus putrescentiae in mushroom

The studies on population buildup of Tyrophagus putrescentiae on compost and fruiting body of Pleurotus sajor-caju revealed that irrespective of initial inoculums level mite number decreased significantly at each observation period. No mites were recorded after 24, 24, 30 days and 24, 34, 38days on wheat straw and wheat straw plus calcium sulphate based compost at initial inoculums level of 10, 20 and 30 T. putrescentiae pairs, respectively. The weight loss of the compost was 0 to 10.3 percent in these levels. Percent loss in total sugar, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar, starch, protein content of compost was in the range of 13.3 to 52.1%, 11.3 to 27%, 1.2 to 4.07%, 14.2 to 35.7%, 45 to 71%, respectively. In fruiting bodies, a peak in population (41.66, 59.00, 83.00 mites/10g fruiting body) was recorded at initial inoculums level of 10, 20 and 30 T. putrescentiae pairs. Weight loss of the fruiting body was 0.00 to 20.5 percent in these levels. Significant reduction in total sugar, reducing sugar, non reducing sugar, starch, protein content of fruiting bodies was recorded. It was 0.134, 0.055, 0.070, 0.010, 0.279 mg/10g fruiting body at 30 mite pairs as compared to 0.162, 0.075,