Key Technical Points for Integrated Pest and Disease Control in Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)
1 Competing fungi, diseases, and insect pests and their control 1.1 Competing fungi and their control methods 1.1.1 Coprinus comatus, commonly known as the wild mushroom, morphological characteristics: the cap is initially bullet-shaped or oval, jade white, grayish white, or yellowish white, mostly with scales on the surface, and the stalk is slender and hollow. When mature, the cap expands, and the gills gradually turn from white to black, finally autolyzing together with the cap into an ink-like liquid.
1 Competing fungi, diseases, and insect pests and their control
1.1 Competing fungi and their control methods
1.1.1 Coprinus comatus
Commonly known as the wild mushroom, morphological characteristics: the cap is initially bullet-shaped or oval, jade white, grayish white, or yellowish white, mostly with scales on the surface, and the stalk is slender and hollow. When mature, the cap expands, and the gills gradually turn from white to black, finally autolyzing together with the cap into an ink-like liquid.
Control methods: Prepare the compost well, raise the pile temperature, reduce the ammonia content, and prevent the compost from being under-fermented or too wet, so as to suppress the occurrence and growth of Coprinus comatus. After Coprinus comatus appears on the mushroom bed, it should be removed promptly; if Coprinus comatus breaks out heavily, a 2%-5% formaldehyde solution can be used for control.
1.1.2 White plaster mold
Also known as stinking mold, morphological characteristics: initially dense mycelium in double-spot patches, gradually becoming dark flour-like, with a pungent odor.
Control methods: Increase the amount of superphosphate and lower the pH value of the compost: after local occurrence, spray a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder.
1.1.3 Bulgaria inquinans
Also known as gum gyroscope, fierce-mouth mushroom, dung bowl, morphological characteristics: the fruiting bodies grow in groups or clusters, with short stalks; after the gyroscope-like body expands, it becomes shallow cup-shaped, 1-4.5 cm in diameter and 1-2.5 cm in height, dark brown on the outside, with clustered hairs, wrinkled when dry, and poisonous.
Control methods: The mushroom cultivation company should provide appropriate ventilation and reduce humidity; remove Bulgaria inquinans fruiting bodies promptly and bury them deeply; when local occurrence happens, spray a 2%-5% formaldehyde solution for control.
1.2 Insect pests and their control methods
1.2.1 Springtails
Larvae are white, adults are grayish blue, small in size, soft and wingless, with body length rarely exceeding 5 mm. They mainly bite and feed on fruiting bodies, generally invading from wounds or the gill area.
Control methods: When this pest is found on the bed surface before mushrooms appear, spray a 250-fold dilution of 40% trichlorfon emulsifiable concentrate or a 500-fold dilution of 70% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate, or use a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate plus a small amount of honey to trap and kill them; after mushrooms appear on the bed surface, spray a 500-fold dilution of 1.1% compound Sophora flavescens plant extract for control, or use a 1000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate plus a small amount of honey to trap and kill them.
1.2.2 Mushroom flies
Adults are 6-9 mm long and dark gray. Larvae are 8-12 mm long, white, with pointed heads and blunt tails. Pupae are long oval, 6-8 mm long, and reddish brown to dark brown.
Control methods: Install screen windows in the mushroom house to prevent mushroom flies from entering; when adults are found in the mushroom house, use 0.5 part baijiu, 2 parts water, 3 parts brown sugar, and 3.5 parts vinegar, add a small amount of trichlorfon or dichlorvos, place the mixture in a basin, and use it for trapping and killing.
1.2.3 Mushroom gnats
Generally, adults are 4.5-6.0 mm long, and larvae are 10-13 mm long, with a long cylindrical body. Adults are phototactic and strong fliers.
Control methods: If mushroom gnats are found before mushroom emergence, fumigate with dichlorvos; after mushroom emergence, mash castor bean leaves, squeeze out the juice, mix it with water at a ratio of 10 parts water to 1 part juice, boil and cool, and spray it in the mushroom house and on the compost surface.
1.3 Diseases and their control methods
1.3.1 Brown spot disease
Also called dry bubble disease, Verticillium disease, etc. It takes about 2 weeks for mushrooms to develop brown spots from infection. Initially, many irregular brown spots the size of pinheads appear on the cap, and later the spots gradually expand and become sunken, with the sunken areas appearing gray.
Control methods: Spray a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder.
1.3.2 Soft rot
After the fruiting body is infected, it gradually turns brown until it rots.
Control methods: Reduce watering on the bed surface, strengthen ventilation, lower air humidity, and sprinkle lime powder on the affected parts; spray a 800-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder.
2 Integrated control
2.1 Compost blending and disinfection
2.1.1 pH value The pH value of the compost should be adjusted to 7.5-8 before entering the shed. If it exceeds 8.2, it is likely to cause the occurrence of white plaster mold. If the pH value is too high, adjust it with superphosphate water; if too low, adjust it with lime water.
2.1.2 Disinfection The day before the compost enters the shed, spray the surface of the compost pile with a 200-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate or a 400-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate, then seal it for 24 hours to kill mites and other pests.
2.2 Disinfection of the mushroom house
2.2.1 Disinfection of an empty house For each cubic meter, use 15 g sulfur, 2 mL formaldehyde, and 5 mL 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, mix them into sawdust, pack them separately in paper bags, place them at the four corners and the center of the mushroom house, close the doors and windows, then ignite and fumigate for 24 hours. Alternatively, for every 100 sq m of bed surface, use 2 kg formaldehyde and 1 kg dichlorvos for fumigation for 24 hours, then open the windows for ventilation. If it is a continuous-cropping mushroom house, after harvesting the mushrooms, promptly dismantle all removable bed surfaces and move them outdoors for thorough cleaning and sun exposure; if they cannot be dismantled, uncover the plastic film and expose them to the sun for several days, and spray and whitewash the walls with 10%-20% lime water. Before use, seal the mushroom house well and then fumigate and disinfect it according to the above method.
2.2.2 Disinfection of a stocked house For every 100 sq m of bed surface, use 1 kg formaldehyde and heat it for fumigation, keep it sealed for 24 hours, then open the vents for ventilation.
2.3 Adjustment of casing soil pH value and disinfection
2.3.1 Disinfection Evenly spray soil particles with a 5% formaldehyde solution to moisten them, let them air slightly, then spray them moist with a 500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate, and then seal them with film for 24 hours.
2.3.2 Adjustment of pH value Use lime to adjust the pH value of the soil particles; the suitable pH value is about 7.5-8.
2.4 Protection of ventilation openings All ventilation openings should be covered with gauze to prevent various pests from flying in.