Cause analysis and preventive measures for deformed mushrooms

In mushroom cultivation, the following deformed mushrooms occur at a relatively high rate. The causes and preventive measures are as follows:

The "landmine mushroom" is caused by excessive ventilation of the mushroom house after the coarse soil particles are sprayed wet, low temperature, too late covering with fine soil, and overly wet fine soil particles, which make the primordia of the fruiting bodies attach too low; during the growth of the primordia, they are squeezed by the surrounding soil particles, so the mushroom shape is not round and the surface carries soil, resembling a "landmine."

The preventive method is to strengthen water management; coarse and fine soil should be sprayed wet at the right time and slowly; after the coarse soil particles are sprayed wet, reduce ventilation and maintain the relative air humidity in the house at about 80%, prompting the mycelium to grow upward.

Hollow mushrooms: during the fruiting period, if the air humidity in the mushroom house is too low, the fruiting bodies evaporate water quickly, and the soil surface is sprayed with little water, the rapidly growing fruiting bodies cannot get water replenishment, so white pith will form in the stipe, or even the stipe becomes hollow, producing hollow mushrooms.

The preventive method is to strengthen water management during the peak mushroom period, spray water in time so that the soil layer does not become too dry, and enable the rapidly growing fruiting bodies to obtain sufficient water, thereby reducing the occurrence of hollow mushrooms.

Spherical mushrooms: if old mycelial clumps are not dug out before covering with coarse soil, the casing layer is uneven in thickness, and the surface of the mushroom bed is uneven in moisture, several or a dozen fruiting bodies will grow together in clusters, forming spherical mushroom bodies of different sizes. When large mushrooms are picked, small mushrooms are disturbed and damaged, and the clustered mushrooms crowd together, which also reduces the yield of marketable mushrooms.

The preventive method is to dig out old mycelial clumps in time before broadcast spawning or hole spawning, or appropriately increase the thickness of the soil layer and spread it evenly.

Umbrella-shaped mushrooms: a sudden drop in temperature, relatively high moisture in the fine soil and relatively low temperature in the mushroom house, and cold wind blowing into the mushroom house at night create a large temperature difference, causing the gills and stipe of immature young mushrooms to separate and prompting the young mushrooms to open their caps early.

The preventive method is to avoid cold wind suddenly blowing into the mushroom house, pay attention to heat preservation, and keep the mushroom bed at a suitable water content, so that young mushrooms can grow robustly at low temperature.

Dense small mushrooms: because the casing soil is too thin, the mycelium grows past the fine soil, water supply is intermittent, and fruiting is abnormal, fruiting becomes dense and numerous, resulting in small, light mushrooms of poor quality.

The preventive method is to apply supplementary fertilizer, promptly add casing soil, and spray water lightly and frequently to maintain normal humidity.

Thin-skinned mushrooms: insufficient fermentation of the compost, too thin and too dry compost, insufficient water in the coarse soil, high fruiting density, and humidity fluctuating low and high all can cause the fruiting bodies to grow quickly and mature early, resulting in thin stipes and thin mushroom bodies.

The preventive method is to make the compost moderately decomposed, spread the compost layer to a certain thickness, not allow it to become too dry, and pay attention to controlling the fruiting rhythm.

Rust-spotted mushrooms: after the fruiting bodies emerge from the soil, if the bed surface is not ventilated in time after spraying water, the air humidity in the mushroom house becomes too high, and rust-colored spots appear where water droplets accumulate on the caps, thereby reducing mushroom quality.

The preventive method is to ventilate the mushroom house properly after each watering to dissipate moisture from the surface of the fruiting bodies.

Small-capped mushrooms: too thick casing soil on the mushroom bed, relatively large coarse soil particles, too late casing, the soil layer being dry for a long time, excessively high carbon monoxide concentration caused by coal heating in winter, and mild pesticide damage all can cause mushroom bodies with long stipes and small caps or thick stipes and small caps.

The preventive method is that soil particles should not be too large or too hard, casing should not be too late, water should be adjusted in time during the fruiting period, pesticides are prohibited, and ventilation should be appropriate.

Red-root mushrooms: relatively high natural temperature, too much water sprayed on the compost surface, especially excessive watering before picking, and poor ventilation often cause the mushroom base to turn red.

The preventive method is that during the fruiting period the soil layer should not contain too much water; stop watering before picking and adjust the ventilation rate.

Scaly mushrooms: relatively low temperature, a relatively dry mushroom house, and rapid changes in temperature and dryness/humidity easily cause scales to form on the caps.

The preventive method is to increase the relative humidity of the mushroom house before fruiting and keep it as balanced as possible.