High-yield cultivation techniques for edible fungi and methods for controlling gray mold on orchid petals

The pathogenic fungus causing gray mold damage to petals is Botrytis cinerea. The symptoms are small round brown spots appearing on petals and sepals. It is relatively common in Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, and Oncidium. It is mainly caused by high humidity and poor ventilation. In winter and spring when temperatures are low, in order to prevent outside cold air from entering the greenhouse and damaging the orchids, doors and windows are often kept tightly closed or insulation measures are used, resulting in very high relative humidity inside the greenhouse (reaching above 90%), which is exactly a good opportunity for this disease to occur and spread. This fungal disease is a widespread pathogen with as many as hundreds of host species, and can infect flowers, ornamental plants, vegetables, and fruit trees. From February to May each year, it commonly occurs in cultivation greenhouses. If Phalaenopsis flowers are infected, it not only affects their ornamental value and reduces their commercial value, but may even make them impossible to sell, causing great losses. The control methods are as follows:

(1) Pay attention to ventilation and air permeability, and reduce environmental humidity.

(2) Before the first flower opens, begin spraying 50% Prochloraz wettable powder at 2000 times dilution, then spray once every 2-4 weeks thereafter.

(3) During the flowering period, immediately remove diseased flowers as soon as they are found, and destroy or bury them in a centralized manner.

(4) Other ornamental plants and flowers inside and outside the greenhouse also need to be sprayed at the same time for protection.