Key Technical Points for Summer Management of Mushrooms Grown on Bed Logs

Most edible mushroom growers know that summer is the main harvest period for wood ear mushrooms grown on bed logs, and that after the spring fruiting of shiitake mushrooms on bed logs, the mycelium has consumed a great deal of nutrients. During the idle summer period between flushes, the mycelium must be properly recuperated in time to prepare for the autumn flush. The following summarizes the summer management technical measures for wood ear mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms grown on bed logs, for everyone's reference.

I. Wood Ear Mushroom

During the fruiting period, the moisture management method of "dry-dry-wet-wet, alternating dry and wet" should be adopted. If there is continuous sunny weather and young fruiting bodies are present on the log, water can be sprayed around midday; in July and August, when temperatures are too high, water should be sprayed in the evening to replenish the water content of the logs; when the temperature is suitable for the growth and development of wood ear mushrooms, water should be sprayed promptly to promote fruiting. In the early stage of inducing fruiting, heavy watering should be applied so that the logs absorb water thoroughly and primordia are stimulated to form. After fruiting begins, spraying should be light and fine, with a pause of 1 time every 2-3 days, lasting 1-2 days. After each harvest of wood ear mushrooms, watering should be stopped for 6-7 days, and then, depending on the mycelial growth in the logs and whether the temperature is suitable, the next round of fruiting induction and fruiting management can be carried out. During the fruiting period, the logs should be turned over as much as possible when watering, so that they absorb water and receive light evenly. In hot, dry weather, special care must be taken to prevent the bark of the logs from peeling off, and water replenishment and spraying must be done in the evening after the surface temperature of the logs has dropped. For summer wood ear mushrooms, harvesting should be done all at once regardless of size, because high temperatures make them prone to insect damage and bacterial contamination, which can cause the fruiting bodies to rot and drip. Wood ear mushrooms should be harvested after rain when the sky has cleared, when the fruiting bodies are already dry but the base is still moist.

II. Summer Management of Shiitake Mushrooms

(1) Repair the mushroom shed. Management measures must be taken according to temperature changes. In summer, a shade shed should be built according to the "seven shade, three sun" requirement to create a suitable cool environment for the mushroom sticks, prevent exposure to the sun, and replenish water during droughts, regulating temperature and humidity to ensure robust growth of shiitake mycelium and safe overwintering through summer.

(2) Mushroom stick management. Stack the mushroom sticks in upright piles and dig drainage ditches to prevent waterlogging in the mushroom yard. From 40-60 days before fruiting induction in autumn, stack the mushroom logs in a "sparse #-shaped pile," cover them with agricultural film on rainy days to protect them from rain, and allow the sticks to gradually dry out, preparing them for autumn fruiting induction.

(3) Control of shiitake gall midges

1. Agricultural measures

First, thoroughly clean up old mushroom yards, remove discarded mushroom sticks, dead branches and fallen leaves, and burn them in a centralized manner; where conditions permit, the mushroom sticks can be moved to another site; new mushroom yards should be thoroughly cleaned and treated before use. Second, new mushroom yards should be kept away from mountain forest slopes and old mushroom yards. Third, newly cut mushroom logs should be brushed with limewater or the bark burned with fire for 2-3 minutes to kill insects. Fourth, strengthen cultivation management to promote good development of shiitake mycelium and enhance resistance.

2. Physical control

First, manually kill the larvae. Second, adult midges and similar pests have strong phototaxis, so black light lamps or high-voltage insect-killing lamps can be placed around the mushroom yard to trap and kill them.

3. Chemical control

(1) Mushroom yard. After cleaning the mushroom yard, it can be sprinkled with 4.5% beta-cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution, or 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 800 times dilution, or 20% fenpropathrin emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution.

(2) Mushroom sticks. For mushroom sticks with pests, soaking or fumigation can be used to kill the insects.

① Soaking: Soak the mushroom sticks in 4.5% beta-cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution or 20% fenpropathrin emulsifiable concentrate at 1200 times dilution for 2-3 hours. The mushroom sticks must be completely submerged in the solution.

② Fumigation: Use 0.5 kg of 22% dichlorvos smoke fumigant per mu of mushroom logs and fumigate in a closed space for 2-3 days.

(3) Chemical agents should be used during the summer rest period of the mushroom sticks, 30 days before fruiting, to prevent contamination of shiitake mushrooms. Pay attention to pesticide safety and prevent poisoning of humans and livestock.