Mushroom disease

Mushroom disease and Management

A mushroom, or toadstool, is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source. "Mushroom" also describes a variety of other gilled fungi, with or without stems, therefore the term is used to describe the fleshy fruiting bodies of some Ascomycota. These gills produce microscopic spores that help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. Mushrooms are the fleshy fruiting bodies of fungi and include edible species in the genus Agaricus (button mushrooms, portabellas and criminis), Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms), and Volvariella, (straw mushrooms). Mushrooms are highly variable in appearance depending on their stage of development and variety.

But there have many disease found in Mushroom. Some of disease are given below-

Cobweb, mildew (Dactylium)

The usually used name «cobweb mold» was obtained by this disease because of the outward appearance of the mycelial growth, which looks like a white cobweb. Appearing on the casing layer as small and white spots, the «cobweb» grows very fast all over the casing surface, colonizing all mushrooms on its way. The diseased mushrooms become covered with white and fluffy mold mycelium, weaken, become brown and rot. The mycelium threads of the mold gradually thicken, becoming a thick layer of mold. In time, it becomes reddish-purple in color, and can change to yellow on the later stages of development. During spore-forming, the spore dust is easily spread by wind, or watering the beds. Moreover, Dactylium is easily spread by pieces of mycelium, which stick to personnel’s clothes and implements.

Calves brains/ false truffle (Diehlomyces)

False truffles are not real truffles because they are members of the Basidiomycota not the Ascomycota. Otherwise the similarities are greater than the differences. The false truffles all lack the ability to shoot their basidiospores away from the basidium and allow them to mature inside the subterranean basidiomata. The fruiting bodies often have an odour attractive to specialized rodents that seek them out as a source of nutrition. When the animal finds one it eats it and the basidiospores pass through its gut unharmed and ready to germinate.

Damping off (Damping off)

Damping-off fungus is a disease that attacks seedlings and cuttings. It is caused by several soil-borne types of fungus-like organisms and fungi such as phytophthora, pythium, and rhizoctonia and fusarium. The disease is a prevalent problem among seedlings grown indoors or within the confines of a greenhouse. Afflicted seedlings often fail to emerge from the soil or they decay and collapse shortly after emerging. Growers frequently notice a pile of white fungus around the sick seedling and on the soil’s surface.

Wet bubble / white mould (Mycogone)

Wet bubble disease (WBD), one of the most devastating fungal diseases affecting commercial cultivation of A. bisporus worldwide, is caused by Mycogone perniciosa. Smith et al. (1924) demonstrated that the earliest record of WBD on A. bisporus dates back to 1888. The mycopathogen adheres to and penetrates A. bisporus during any stage of fruiting body development causing either the characteristic undifferentiated lumps of primordia or the fruiting body’s color changes to brown. These tumorous bodies are covered with wet bubbles, white and fluffy mycelium, and amber droplets.

Brown plaster mould(Papulaspora)

The reasons for the appearance of brown plaster mold are similar to the ones of the white plaster mold. Its presence indicates improper preparation of phase 1 compost, the presence of excessively moist, stuck together clumps of compost and its high pH level (perhaps due to insufficient amount of gypsum). Moreover, a disturbance in the process of compost pasteurization and conditioning, and improper hygiene at spawning can lead to an infection of a batch of compost with brown plaster mold.

White plaster mould (Scopulariopsis)

Thick, fluffy white plaster mold spots (or flour mold), can appear on compost and on the casing layer surface. For some time, the edges of this fungus remain white and fluffy, but the middle of the spots gradually becomes powdery, and it seems like flecks of plaster or flour on the casing surface.

Green mould (Trichoderma)

A fungus, Trichoderma harzianum, that is common in soil and on organic matter. This fungus sporulates abundantly with sufficient light and the spores spread readily through the air or any mechanical means. Red pepper mites are often associated with this disease. A white mold that turns green with sporulation may develop on wooden boxes, compost, and sometimes with the cut end of mushrooms.

Dry bubble / brown spot (Verticillium)

Verticillium dry bubble, recently named Lecanicillium fungicola, is a mycoparasite that attacks white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), among other hosts, during its generative period. L. fungicola infects the casing layer on the cap structure of several edible mushrooms. This fungal pathogen does not typically infect wild mushrooms, but more commonly cultivated mushrooms are infected such as A. bisporus, which are typically grown in large quantities. Severity of disease depends on several factors, including timing of infection and environmental conditions. Dry bubble follows the typical verticillium life cycle, although insect vectors play a large role in the spread of this disease. Control for L. fungicola is limited, and strict measures must be taken to prevent the spread of infection. L. fungicola is a devastating pathogen in the mushroom industry and causes significant losses in the commercial production of its main host A. bisporus. Annual costs for mushroom growers are estimated at 2–4% of total revenue.

Managements

Mushroom managers are often more concerned about their own career and image. Anyone who appears as a threat may well be deliberately held back as their ability may make the mushroom manager look bad.

Mushroom managers may also have their favorites on whom they lavish attention and the plum jobs. Others are swept away and given the dross.

Managers may take the mushroom route is that they just do not care about some or all of their people. Sometimes mushroom managers are just incompetent and know no better. 

Avoids sharing information with the team.

Attempts to control the decision making process.

Makes commitments without consulting the team.

May make solution decisions without consulting the team.

Often has a bad relationship with the team.