Simple Control Methods for Eight Diseases and Pests of Edible Fungi

In China, more than 20 species of edible fungi are cultivated on a relatively large scale, including the button mushroom, shiitake, oyster mushroom, snow fungus, wood ear, king stropharia, nameko, and pine mushroom. In recent years, edible fungus cultivation has achieved encouraging results, but according to growers' feedback, diseases and pests of edible fungi frequently occur, causing varying degrees of loss. Here we introduce simple control methods for eight diseases and pests.

1. Brown rot, also known as white rot or blister disease, mainly harms the fruiting bodies of straw mushroom, button mushroom, and others. If the casing soil is contaminated, spray 50% carbendazim or a 500-fold dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl on the casing soil to kill the pathogen spores. When the disease occurs, immediately stop watering, increase ventilation in the mushroom house, and lower the room temperature to 15°C; spray the affected area with a 500-fold dilution of 50% carbendazim, or spray a 1%-2% formaldehyde solution to sterilize. In severe cases, remove the original casing soil, replace it with new soil, burn the diseased mushrooms, and disinfect the tools used with a 4% formaldehyde solution.

2. Green mold mainly harms shiitake, wood ear, snow fungus, button mushroom, and others. At the early stage of infection, wipe the surface of the substrate clean with limewater at pH 10. When green mold appears on the fungal blocks, promptly wash it off with an 800-fold dilution of carbendazim.

3. Mushroom flies mainly harm the button mushroom. If mushroom flies appear before fruiting, spray a 1000-fold dilution of dichlorvos, or use a 0.1% rotenone solution, spraying 2-3 times when there are no mushrooms on the bed; after fruiting begins, only pyrethrin or fenvalerate solution may be sprayed (this method is also suitable for eliminating fungus gnats).

4. Fungus mites, also known as fungus lice, mainly harm shiitake, wood ear, and others. The mites are very small and difficult to see with the naked eye, mostly gathering in clumps on the substrate surface or soil particles and appearing coffee-colored. When they occur, spray 500 mL of a 0.5% dichlorvos solution per sq m for control. For fungus mites on wood ear logs, spray an 800-fold dilution of 20% wettable miticide powder.

5. Slugs, also known as water slugs or slugworms, mainly harm shiitake, snow fungus, oyster mushroom, wood ear, button mushroom, and others. They mostly hide during the day and come out at night to bite and feed on fruiting bodies, affecting edible fungus yields. In the evening, spray the areas where slugs are active with slug-killing solution, or sprinkle potassium permanganate solution along the trails they have crawled over. You can also spray a 5% salt solution where slugs are active, or scatter lime powder once every 3-4 days.

6. Nematodes are a type of colorless small worm, extremely tiny, about 1 mm long, mainly harming button mushroom, shiitake, wood ear, oyster mushroom, and others. Starting from spring when the wood ear buds emerge, spray wood ear with the clear supernatant of 1% limewater or a 5% salt solution, and scatter lime powder on the ground. If nematodes are found in a localized area, dig out the culture substrate around them together and spray with a 0.1% potassium iodide solution.

7. Springtails, also called soot worms, have gray or purple adults and white nymphs. They can harm the mycelium and fruiting bodies of many edible fungi, reproduce quickly under high-temperature and humid conditions, and can produce 5-7 generations per year. They mainly harm shiitake, wood ear, button mushroom, snow fungus, and others. For control, before loading the substrate, spray the mushroom bed frames, and after loading, spray the substrate surface with a 1000-fold solution of 80% dichlorvos or a 200-500-fold solution of 50% phoxim to kill the insects. When there are no mushrooms on the bed, spray 0.2% dimethoate emulsion, or use 0.4% trichlorfon or a 1000-fold dilution of dichlorvos with a small amount of honey for baiting and killing. If springtails appear after the bed has fruited, use 2.5% rotenone emulsifiable concentrate or an 800-1000-fold dilution of 20% pyrethrum to kill them.

8. False ground beetles, commonly known as black-shelled bugs. Their larvae are called fish worms and mainly harm wood ear. When they occur from March to May, spray 80% dichlorvos solution on the wood ear yard and the surrounding ground. Before the dog days, spray a 500-800-fold dilution of rotenone once every 10 days, or once after each wood ear harvest.