Detailed Explanation of Key Technical Points for Mushroom Pest and Disease Control

There are many varieties of mushrooms, and the more common ones in daily life include oyster mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, nameko mushrooms, and so on, with somewhat different flavors. Regardless of which type of mushroom it is, if management is even slightly improper during cultivation, pest and disease infestations will occur. Let us take a look below at the key technical points for mushroom pest and disease control.

I. Common Fungal Diseases of Mushrooms

1. Gypsum mold. This mold generally appears within a period of time after the compost is placed on the bed, especially when the bed surface is relatively moist and ventilation conditions are poor. At first there is a white mold spot, which later slowly turns brown, and finally becomes a yellow granular paste-like substance with an unpleasant odor.

Control methods: First, choose well-fermented compost; second, strengthen ventilation in the mushroom house; third, if unwanted fungi have already appeared, quicklime powder can first be spread for disinfection.

2. Walnut-meat mold: This is also a very serious harmful mold, with a bleaching powder odor. What is generally called mushroom plague is caused by this mold. If this fungus is found, the spawn must be deeply buried to prevent it from spreading everywhere, and corresponding disinfection and sterilization measures must be taken. Be sure to strengthen ventilation in the mushroom house and stop spraying water.

If it is infection by other unwanted fungi, proper ventilation and water spraying should be carried out, then carbendazim wettable powder should be mixed into the compost in proportion, which can both provide preventive effect and promote the growth of mycelium.

In addition to mold diseases of mushrooms, common ones also include brown spot disease and brown rot disease, which are also unwanted fungi that can cause mushroom death. If diseased mushrooms are found, they need to be deeply buried, and then indoor disinfection treatment should be carried out.

II. Common Pests of Mushrooms

1. Mushroom flies. This is one of the common pests in mushroom cultivation. They are also a relatively small type of fly that can fly with their wings, then lay eggs on the compost, hatch into maggots, and then invade the tender stipes and emerge from the caps. In this way, many small holes will be bitten into the mushrooms.

2. Red spider mites. Red spider mites are generally easy to identify; when they appear, they show dark red on the mushrooms.

3. Mushroom mites. Mushroom mites are generally commonly seen on raised areas of the surface of soil materials, as if a layer of powdery substance had been sprinkled on them.

4. Springtails. Springtails are a type of small insect that can jump. They generally appear during composting and casing soil. They can also cause small holes to appear on mushrooms, thus affecting the commercial value of the mushrooms.

Once the above pests appear, we can take some preventive measures:

First, before the compost enters the house, treat it with relevant agents, such as abamectin for killing mites. Second, before loading the material, the mushroom house can be fumigated with trichlorfon. Third, the mushroom house should preferably be selected far away from chicken coops, warehouses, feed rooms, and similar locations to avoid the spread of pests.