What to Do When Oyster Mushroom Pinheads Die? Cause Analysis and Control Methods

In oyster mushroom production, due to unsuitable mushroom house environmental conditions and compost, as well as improper management or severe weather and other reasons, pinheads on the mushroom bed often shrink, turn yellow, and eventually die; sometimes pinheads on the bed surface die in batches, seriously affecting yield and economic benefits. For this, the author conducted extensive observational research and summarized the causes of mushroom death and control methods, presented as follows:

1 Continuous high temperatures In autumn mushroom production in northern regions, temperatures go from high to low, which is suitable for the growth and development of oyster mushroom fruiting bodies, but sometimes from mid-October to early November, just as the second and third flushes of mushrooms are growing, sudden high temperatures above 25°C occur. If measures to prevent high temperatures are not taken in time, and the temperature stays above 22°C for several consecutive days, pinheads on the mushroom bed will die, especially button-sized young mushrooms, which will turn yellow, wither, and die. In spring, if the mushroom house temperature exceeds 21°C for several consecutive days, and if ventilation in the mushroom house is poor, oxygen is insufficient, CO2 concentration is too high, and the heat generated during metabolism cannot be dissipated quickly, large numbers of pinheads will also die. This is because excessively high mushroom house temperature is unsuitable for fruiting body growth and development but suitable for mycelial growth; at high temperatures, the nutrients of already formed fruiting bodies flow back to the mycelium, and the pinheads wither and die from lack of nutrients. To prevent mushroom death from high temperatures, pay attention to weather forecasts. When high temperatures occur, immediately stop spraying water on the mushroom bed, open more doors and windows, strengthen ventilation to increase fresh air indoors and improve the vitality of oyster mushrooms; at the same time, take cooling measures to keep it from exceeding 21°C and reduce mushroom death.

2 Unsuitable pH of the compost for oyster mushroom growth The suitable pH of the compost for oyster mushroom growth is preferably slightly alkaline; both too acidic and too alkaline conditions easily cause mushroom death. If it is too acidic (pH below 5), the mushroom buds appear brown, and 0.1% lime water or plant ash can be used to adjust the pH to 7.5; if the compost is too alkaline (pH above 8), the young mushroom buds appear yellow, and 0.1% superphosphate solution can be used to adjust the pH to 7.3