What to do about large-scale mushroom death in straw mushroom cultivation? Implement these prevention and control measures

    During the fruiting period of straw mushrooms (Volvariella volvacea), it is common to see large patches of young mushroom buds on the bed shrivel, turn yellow, and eventually die. Straw mushroom death is caused by multiple factors, and prevention should be the primary approach.

Straw mushroom

    I. Causes of straw mushroom death

    1. Ventilation and moisture retention in the straw mushroom house are not coordinated. Straw mushrooms are aerobic fungi and require a large amount of water during their growth process. Excessive ventilation leads to water loss and death from dehydration. Insufficient ventilation leads to excessive carbon dioxide and oxygen deficiency in the mushroom house, causing death.

    2. Sudden temperature changes in the mushroom house. In most of southern China, foam mushroom houses are used for cultivating straw mushrooms, and the foam plays an important role in maintaining constant temperature and humidity. However, if doors and windows are not closed in time when a typhoon strikes, or if heating is not applied in time when freezing damage occurs, or if ventilation for cooling is not started early enough during sustained high-temperature weather, or if too much well water is sprayed on the floor, causing the temperature to drop too quickly, the young straw mushrooms cannot withstand the sudden temperature change and die in batches.

    3. Poor straw mushroom germplasm and pest and disease damage. Due to various reasons, age-appropriate straw mushroom spawn that cannot be cultivated in time will age and die. If the mycelial vigor is poor, nutrient accumulation after spawning is insufficient, and the fruiting survival rate will also be very low. At the same time, infection by contaminant fungi or infestation by mites can also cause mushroom death.

    II. Prevention and control measures

    1. A high-temperature and high-humidity environment is suitable for straw mushroom growth. The moisture content of the culture material entering the mushroom house must be strictly controlled, and over-aged spawn must not be used. At the same time, the mushroom house temperature should be maintained at around  30 °C. If sustained high temperature and dry weather occur, water can be sprinkled on the mushroom house floor and ventilation and air exchange should be increased to achieve the purpose of cooling and moisture retention.

    2. The wheat bran  ( nitrogen source )  applied to the surface of the straw mushroom spawn bed should preferably not exceed  3% ( it may also be omitted ) , in order to reduce the probability of green mold and other contaminant fungi and pest problems.

    3. When harvesting straw mushrooms, do so carefully and gently to avoid mechanical bruising of the small mushrooms or breaking the mycelial layer, which can cause mushroom death. As long as every production step is operated properly, the occurrence of straw mushroom death during cultivation can be reduced.