How to Prevent and Control Black Head Disease in Enoki Mushrooms and Tips for Killing Pests
The enoki mushroom (Flammulina filiformis) is a fungus similar to the daylily bud, and its artificial cultivation technique is not complicated. As long as environmental conditions are well controlled, stable yields can be achieved. However, if management is improper, it may develop diseases such as black head disease. Here we introduce to you the prevention and control methods for black head disease in enoki mushrooms.
I. Introduction to black head disease in enoki mushrooms!
1. What is black head disease in enoki mushrooms?
Black head disease in enoki mushrooms generally refers to bacterial brown blotch disease of enoki mushrooms. It is caused by a Pseudomonas bacterium. The pathogen is rod-shaped, forms white colonies, and shows a negative reaction to Gram staining. After infection, it causes brown rot in enoki mushrooms and has a great impact on production.
2. What are the symptoms of black head disease in enoki mushrooms?
Black head disease is one of the main diseases of enoki mushrooms. The pathogen generally infects only the surface tissue of the fruiting body and does not penetrate deep into the mushroom flesh. In the early stage of infection of the fruiting body, small yellow or pale brown discolored areas appear on the surface of the cap, which later become dark brown sunken lesions. The lesions on the cap are round, oval, or irregular in shape, deepen in color, and merge into large irregular patches, causing light-colored mushrooms to turn yellow and dark-colored mushrooms to turn sauce-colored. In severe cases, the lesions join together, including the entire stipe, making the whole stipe turn brown, unable to stand upright, and covered with slime, and finally the entire mushroom turns dark brown or even rots.
3. What are the causes of black head disease in enoki mushrooms?
The internal cause of black head disease in enoki mushrooms is the non-resistance of the variety, while the external causes are high temperature, high humidity, or spraying unclean water that brings bacteria onto the fruiting bodies. For example, water droplets remaining on the cap surface for a long time or excessively high humidity greatly favors the occurrence of the disease. Poor ventilation can aggravate the development of the disease, and moderate temperature conditions are suitable for the disease.
II. How to prevent and control black head disease in enoki mushrooms?
Method 1: Cleaning and disinfection: Keep the mushroom yard clean and sanitary, and promptly remove diseased mushrooms and waste materials; mushroom houses, bed frames, tools, and other items must be thoroughly disinfected before use, especially mushroom sheds with a severe previous occurrence of the disease; when mixing materials, do not use highly toxic or high-residue anti-contamination agents; the culture material should be thoroughly sterilized, and the casing soil material should be disinfected.
Method 2: Temperature and humidity control: During the fruiting period, keep the temperature of the fruiting room below 15 degrees, avoid fruiting during high-temperature and high-humidity seasons, and strengthen ventilation and heat dissipation during high temperatures. If the temperature suddenly rises, take cooling measures such as opening windows, uncovering films, and shading, but the temperature fluctuation in the mushroom house must not be too great, to prevent water vapor condensation and the formation of a water film.
Method 3: Removal and spraying: Once diseased mushrooms are found, remove them promptly, immediately increase ventilation, suspend or reduce water spraying, rapidly lower the temperature, and spray chemicals to control the disease. For example, a 500-1000 times diluted bleaching powder solution can be sprayed on the material surface once every 2 days. Stop watering the mushroom bed for 1 day before and after application, apply the chemical again at an interval of 3-4 days, and use it continuously for more than 3 times. In severe cases, first remove the diseased mushrooms, clean the material surface or casing soil, and then spray according to the above method.
III. How to kill pests of enoki mushrooms?
The main pests of enoki mushrooms include mushroom flies, sciarid flies, and mites. They occur especially severely when the temperature rises. During the period of mycelial spread, as long as adult insects are seen flying out, insecticides should be used for control. The most ideal insecticide is dichlorvos, and its use should be stopped when mushroom buds appear.
The above is an introduction to the prevention and control methods for black head disease in enoki mushrooms and the methods for killing pests. We hope it is useful to everyone.