Control Methods for the "Three Pests and One Disease" in Mushroom Cultivation

The "three pests and one disease" that harm autumn mushrooms are: mites, springtails, mushroom gnats, and harmful Mycogone perniciosa. The damage characteristics and control methods of these pests and diseases are described below.

I. Mite damage symptoms

During the spawn-running process, if mycelial regression is observed, such as a decrease in fluffy mycelium and an increase in strand-like mycelium, and pinkish shiny spots are seen on the mycelial surface, then mite infestation has appeared on the mushroom bed. When 3-5 mites are present within the range visible under a magnifying glass, the control threshold has been reached. After casing soil is applied, mites will move along with the mycelium growing toward the soil surface and move with the soil surface, concentrating on the primordia and the base of the mushroom stipes to feed, often causing the root area to become bare with no mycorrhizae, so that nutrients cannot be transported and the mushrooms shrink and die. At the same time, mites transmit pathogenic bacteria and viruses; in mushroom houses with severe mite infestation, various diseases are also more serious.

II. Springtail damage symptoms. Springtails are omnivorous insects, and when mushrooms are cultivated in open fields and greenhouses, springtails are more numerous. Common species include the grayish-white Lepidocyrtus springtail and the small black-colored springtail. Springtails feed on both mycelium and mushroom bodies, often gathering in the gills or on the caps, biting the mushroom bodies into a mass of holes, causing the mushroom bodies to shrivel and die. The black springtail in particular is tiny in size and has a high population density, very easily causing devastating disasters.

III. Mushroom gnat damage symptoms. In autumn, as temperatures gradually decrease, conditions become more suitable for the reproduction of mushroom gnats and mushroom gall midges, especially in culture material rich in manure and incompletely fermented, where mushroom gnats and mushroom gall midges are enormous in number and their larvae feed on mycelium. This reduces yield; if mushroom gnats break out and the population is too large, it can also cause devastating disasters.

IV. Harmful Mycogone perniciosa symptoms. When mushroom mycelium is in the strand formation stage in the soil, the primordium differentiation stage, and the fruiting body growth period, it can all be infected and damaged by harmful Mycogone perniciosa. After the mushroom body is damaged, it shows deformity, the stipe enlarges, the cap becomes smaller, and white fluffy mycelium attaches, later turning brown and producing brown liquid or lesions; after the mushroom body is damaged, both yield and quality suffer great losses.

V. Integrated pest and disease control. In the middle and late stages of spawn running, when the pest population density in the culture material reaches the control threshold, pesticides must be applied promptly for control, and the types of pesticides used should be highly effective, low-toxicity pesticides that cause no harm to mycelium and mushroom bodies. If the mushroom house has good conditions and strong sealing, aluminum phosphide fumigation can be used, at 3 tablets (9.9 grams) per cubic meter, sealed for 48 hours. Most mushroom houses or shed cultivation sites can only use chemical spray control. Mushroom Pest Clean is a biological pesticide specially used for killing insects and mites on edible fungi, with systemic and stomach-poison action; when pest population density is high, spray at 500 times dilution; if pests occur during the casing soil period, after casing soil is applied, when heavily applying the mushroom-adjusting water, mix 1000 times dilution of Mushroom Pest Clean into the water; if pests occur during the first flush growth period, control with Mushroom Pest Clean after the peak of the first flush has passed. Before applying the pesticide, depending on the humidity of the mushroom house, stop watering for 1-2 days so that the pesticide can be absorbed more quickly into the depth of the mushroom bed and achieve an obvious insecticidal effect.

When diseased mushrooms infected by Mycogone perniciosa appear on the mushroom bed, stop spraying water for 2-3 days, keep the bed surface dry, promptly remove the diseased mushrooms and burn them, and after this flush has passed, immediately spray 1000 times dilution of Duogufeng fungicide, combined with supplementary water, spraying once every 3 days for 3 consecutive sprays, which can effectively control the spread of pathogens in the soil layer; at the same time, pay attention to controlling air humidity and strengthening ventilation.

In August, when temperatures are on the high side, more pest and disease sources lie dormant in the mushroom bed. After two flushes have been produced, when higher temperatures are encountered, diseases and pests often break out. For control, insecticides and fungicides can be mixed together and sprayed simultaneously to achieve a two-pronged effect.