Wood Ear Mushroom Disease Prevention and Control Methods and Key Points for Identifying Common Diseases

Disease prevention and control in wood ear mushrooms is a key step in the cultivation of edible fungi such as black wood ear (Auricularia heimuer) and hairy wood ear (Auricularia cornea). During the mycelium culture and fruiting stages, wood ear mushrooms are easily infected by fungi and bacteria, and combined with the effects of high temperature and high humidity, problems such as rotten ears and soft, dripping ears often appear, directly affecting yield and quality. Mastering the identification and control methods for common diseases is the foundation for stable production and increased income in wood ear cultivation.

The common wood ear diseases in production mainly include green mold disease, Neurospora infection, and bacterial rot of the ears. Green mold disease mostly appears as a green mold layer on the surface of the growing substrate, while Neurospora often produces orange-red powdery spores at the broken parts of the fungus bags; soft, dripping ears and rotten ears mostly occur in ear yards with high temperature, high humidity, and poor ventilation, where the ear pieces become soft, sticky, and gradually rot.

Prevention and control of wood ear diseases should adhere to the principle of prevention first. First, select high-quality, disease-resistant spawn, sterilize the growing substrate thoroughly, and carry out inoculation operations in line with aseptic requirements to reduce pathogens at the source. Second, manage the environment well by reasonably controlling temperature and humidity during the fruiting stage, achieving alternation of dry and wet conditions and strengthening ventilation, avoiding prolonged exposure to high temperature and high humidity; water should be clean when sprayed, and high-temperature periods should be avoided as much as possible.

In daily management, inspect the ear yard frequently, and promptly remove diseased ears and rotten ears and take them out of the site for disposal to prevent the spread of pathogens; old ear sheds should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use to reduce the pathogen base. After disease occurs, under the guidance of technical personnel, agents permitted for use on edible fungi may be selected for control, and blindly increasing the dosage must be avoided so as not to affect the food safety of the wood ear mushrooms.