Causes and Control Methods of Hollow Stems with White Cores in Mushrooms

Symptoms: The mushroom stem tissue is not solid, with a white, loose pith appearing inside; after the fruiting body dries or is cooked, the pith shrinks or falls away, becoming hollow.

Causes: This is mainly due to improper water management. If the air humidity in the mushroom house is low and the soil layer humidity is low, especially when the water content of the coarse soil layer is insufficient, the rapidly growing fruiting bodies cannot obtain sufficient water from the soil layer, and consequently the transport and supply of nutrients are also reduced. Combined with the continuous evaporation of water from the fruiting bodies themselves, this causes a lack of water in the middle of the stem and loose tissue, thereby producing the phenomenon of hollow stems with white cores.

Preventive measures: 1. When adjusting water in the coarse soil and spraying water for pinning and fruiting, the water volume should be sufficient to prevent the soil particles from becoming falsely wet. 2. After fruiting begins, spray fruiting water once as much as possible to ensure that the coarse soil layer can continuously receive water replenishment throughout the peak fruiting period. 3. During the mushroom-growing stage, frequently mist the mushroom house to increase humidity; the relative air humidity in the mushroom house should reach 90%. When the temperature is relatively high, ventilate in the morning and evening or at night to lower the temperature and prevent water from dissipating too quickly.