High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius): Formulas and Pest and Disease Control Methods

What pests and diseases affect oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius)? Please provide an introduction and their control methods

High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Oyster Mushrooms

Temperature: The humidity range for oyster mushroom mycelium growth is 10-35°C, with the optimal growth temperature being 25-27°C.

Humidity: The basic requirement for oyster mushroom mycelium growth is a water content of 65%. From primordium formation to fruiting body maturity, the required relative air humidity is 85-90%. When relative air humidity is below 70%, few primordia form and the mushrooms tend to dry out and wilt. When relative humidity is above 95%, the fruiting bodies tend to become soft and rot.

Air: Oyster mushrooms require special ventilation conditions during the mycelium stage, and require good ventilation conditions during the fruiting body stage. If the carbon dioxide concentration in the air is higher than 0.1%, deformed mushrooms with small caps and long stems are easily formed.

Light: Oyster mushrooms do not require light during the mycelium stage but do require light during the fruiting body stage. Scattered light can induce primordium formation and differentiation. Without light, fruiting bodies cannot be produced. Fruiting bodies grow normally under light between 200-2000 lux. Light that is too dim easily leads to deformed mushrooms, while light that is too strong, especially direct sunlight, easily causes the fruiting bodies to dry out.

pH Value: Oyster mushrooms are suited to growing in a slightly alkaline environment. Therefore, in production, 3-5% quicklime water is commonly used to adjust the pH value of the culture medium, generally adjusted to 7.2-7.5. This not only promotes mycelium growth but also suppresses the influence of molds during high summer temperatures.

Nutrition: The growth and development of oyster mushrooms requires carbon, nitrogen, and various mineral nutrients. Like other fungi, they do not contain chlorophyll and cannot carry out photosynthesis to produce nutrients on their own; instead, they rely entirely on ready-made organic matter for their livelihood. During their development, the carbon, nitrogen, minerals, and growth factors they need are all obtained from the cultivation substrate.

Oyster mushroom pests and diseases can be controlled by referring to the following methods:

I. Prevention of Oyster Mushroom Pests and Diseases
  1. Environmental aspects: The mushroom house and bed frames must first undergo strict sterilization and pest elimination. During the mushroom growing period, insulation, moisture retention, and ventilation should be managed as well as possible.
  2. Raw materials: The quality of the culture medium must meet requirements. Raw materials that have been rained on, are moldy, or have fermented cannot be used. When processing raw materials, the pH value of the culture medium must be properly controlled.
  3. Management: In daily management work, one must be careful and meticulous, inspect more and observe frequently, promptly detect pests and diseases, and eliminate them at the initial stage.

  II. Control of Major Contaminant Fungi in Oyster Mushrooms
  1. Mold: Mold grows on the surface of the culture medium and competes with oyster mushrooms for nutrients and water; some also secrete substances that hinder oyster mushroom growth. High temperature, high humidity, and poor ventilation in the mushroom house are the causes of mold development. Therefore, the mushroom house should be ventilated and aired, and the temperature and humidity inside should be regulated to keep the air fresh. Once mold appears, the culture medium covered with mold can be removed with tweezers, or lime powder can be thinly sprinkled on the mold to kill it.
  2. Coprinus comatus: When the culture medium is of poor quality, the pH value is too high, ventilation is poor, and humidity is too high, Coprinus comatus is easily produced. Therefore, the above causes should be addressed immediately, and prevention should be strengthened. Once it appears, it should be pulled out.


  III. Control of Major Pests of Oyster Mushrooms
  1. Mushroom flies: The main damage to oyster mushrooms is caused by their larvae - fly maggots. The maggots first invade the mushroom stem, then gradually move toward the cap, boring the fruiting body into countless small holes. When maggots appear, watering can be appropriately stopped to let the bed surface dry, causing the young larvae to die from lack of water. For adult flies, 5 grams of monosodium glutamate, 25 grams of white sugar, 0.25 milliliters of dichlorvos, and 1000 milliliters of water can be mixed to trap and kill them.

  2. Mites: Mites mostly feed on mycelium and cause great damage. If mites are found, a 1:1000 dilution of trichlorfon acaricide or a 1:800 dilution of acaricide solution can be sprayed to kill them.
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