How should Neurospora disease in lingzhi (reishi) be prevented and controlled?
The scientific name of Neurospora is Neurosporasitophila Sh. et Dodge; it is also called red bread mold (Neurospora sitophila) or red bread mold, bread mold, Neurospora, and Monilia. It belongs to the subdivision Ascomycotina, order Sordariales, genus Neurospora. It is a contaminant fungus that poses a very great threat in the production of lingzhi edible mushroom spawn. It spreads relatively quickly.
Symptoms: after the mother spawn is infected, flesh-red to red conidial masses form on the outside of the cotton plug, surrounding the entire bottle mouth, and at the slightest touch there is a phenomenon of powder scattering and spreading. The mycelium inside the spawn bottle changes from grayish white to yellowish white.
Pathogen: the asexual generation of this pathogen belongs to the subdivision Deuteromycotina; the hyphae are colorless and mostly septate; conidiophores grow out from the hyphae, and conidia are produced at the tips of the conidiophores. In the early stage, the conidia at the tips of the conidiophores are in long chains and can branch; in the later stage, the hyphae can break apart into conidia, which are irregular in shape, varied in size, pink or orange-red, and powdery.
Disease characteristics: this pathogen is widely distributed and lives on organic matter; it spreads through airflow. Incomplete disinfection of the culture material, incomplete disinfection and sterilization of the inoculation room or inoculation box, failure to follow aseptic operating procedures during inoculation, failure to replace the cotton plug after it becomes damp, wounds or cracks in the spawn bags, and the presence of contaminant fungi in the mother spawn or stock spawn used for inoculation can all contaminate the culture material. Neurospora prefers high temperature and high humidity, and grows rapidly when oxygen is sufficient. High air humidity and poor ventilation in the spawn culture room favor the occurrence and spread of this disease. The occurrence of the pathogen is closely related to the indoor and outdoor environmental sanitation conditions of the spawn production room.
Prevention and control methods
(1) Do a good job of environmental sanitation for the spawn production buildings, and dispose of waste centrally and bury it deeply to prevent the growth and spread of the pathogen.
(2) Thoroughly sterilize the culture material, avoid the cotton plug becoming damp, and reduce damage to the spawn bags.
(3) Disinfect the inoculation site and tools with potassium permanganate.
(4) During inoculation, replace the cotton plug in a timely manner, and sprinkle a layer of lime powder on the cotton plug to absorb moisture and prevent fungi.
Commonly used agent: potassium permanganate.