What are the main pests and diseases of the Ferula mushroom? Detailed explanation of control methods

I. Infection routes of pests and diseases

1. Natural spread

During the process of spawn production and cultivation of edible fungi, the slightest negligence allows pathogen spores to invade the spawn and culture bags, while pests lurk in waste materials, weeds and dead branches and fallen leaves around the mushroom house, developing, laying eggs and reproducing, seriously harming edible fungus production.

2. Seed-borne infection

The mother spawn, stock spawn or cultivation spawn used, without strict inspection, is mixed with contaminating fungi and pests; using such spawn for production leads to complete infection.

II. Diseases and their control

1. Fungal diseases

① Brown rot, also called Mycogone perniciosa, is the most common disease of the Ferula mushroom and other edible fungi. It infects only the fruiting body, not the mycelium. After the fruiting body is affected, it turns brown, the mushroom body becomes deformed and rots, with a foul odor.

Control measures: Sterilize culture bags under normal pressure, sterilization must be thorough; treat the casing soil by spraying with 1:500 carbendazim or benomyl, dichlorvos, etc.

② Neurospora, commonly known as red bread mold, is an important disease that contaminates spawn and mushroom houses. The mold hyphae are initially white and fluffy, then gradually become orange-yellow powdery granules. The optimum temperature is 23°C.

Control measures: Maintain good sanitation in the inoculation room, mushroom house and surrounding environment; sterilize the culture material for spawn production thoroughly; lower the temperature and humidity of the mushroom house and strengthen ventilation; add 0.1% carbendazim to the material for mixing, or add 1% lime. If this mold is found, do not use a sprayer to apply chemicals for control; it should be buried away from the mushroom house.

③ Trichoderma harms many kinds of edible fungi and inhibits the growth of edible fungi. The mold is initially white and cottony; after producing spores, it gradually turns green, and finally dark green.

Control measures: Mix the material with 1% lime plus 0.2% carbendazim. When it occurs in spots, remove the mold spots and cover the affected parts with lime or thick limewater. Spray the mushroom bed with 0.2% carbendazim, prochloraz or zineb.

2. Bacterial diseases

① Bacterial blotch disease is caused by Pseudomonas bacteria. Small yellow or pale brown areas appear on the cap, which later become sunken spots. After the spots dry, the cap cracks, forming asymmetrical fruiting bodies. Water accumulation on the cap makes blotch disease likely to occur.

Control measures: Do not allow water to accumulate on the cap surface, prevent the culture material from being too wet; keep the humidity of the mushroom house below 85%; spray with 1:600 diluted bleaching powder solution.

② Gill drip disease is caused by Pseudomonas bacteria and mainly infects the gills. The infected parts become creamy small droplets, and finally the gills rot and turn into a brown slimy mass.

Control measures: Same as bacterial blotch disease.

III. Insect pests and their control

1. Mushroom flies

The adults are very small flies, and the larvae are maggots, white or cream-yellow. The larvae harm the mycelium and fruiting bodies. In severe cases, they can bite off all the mycelium, and the material turns black, sticky and foul-smelling.

Control measures: Mushroom flies mostly fly in from outside the mushroom house, so sanitation must be well maintained; install screen windows on the doors and windows of the mushroom house to prevent adults from flying in; use 1 g of pyrethrum per square meter, add plant ash, and scatter it on the ground, in wall corners and along walkways for 2-3 consecutive days, with good results. Before the mushroom bags are put into the shed, fumigate the mushroom shed with 1 g of potassium permanganate plus 100 mL of formaldehyde per cubic meter of space, or use sulfur powder (15 kg for a 50 m shed), burn it to fumigate the shed for 48 hours. Before fumigation, spread lime powder on the ground, then use a sprayer to spray 200 mL of dichlorvos. After fumigation, pests such as mites, mushroom flies, mushroom gnats and springtails can be killed.

2. Mushroom gnats

Very small, the adults resemble mosquitoes and are black; the larvae are maggots, and the larvae harm the fruiting bodies and mycelium.

Control method: Same as mushroom flies.