See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/355408581

Mushroom: Diseases, Pests and Their Management

Article · October 2021

CITATIONS READS

0 11,183

2 authors:

Chandramuni Sambhaji Gayakwad Pravin Babasaheb Khaire

College of Agriculture Badnapur Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth
2 PUBLICATIONS 1 CITATION 109 PUBLICATIONS 124 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Pravin Babasaheb Khaire on 19 October 2021.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 AgriCos e-Newsletter
ISSN: 2582-7049
Volume : 01 Issue : 06 October 2020 Article No: 19
Mushroom: Diseases, Pests and Their Management
Gayakwad C. S.1, Mete V. S. 1 and Khaire P. B. 2
1
M.Sc, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Badnapur, (M.S.)
2
Ph.D Scholar, Dept. of Plant Pathology, PGI, MPKV, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, (M.S.)
SUMMARY
The nutritional value of mushrooms is high; they are quite rich in protein with a significant content of
essential carbohydrates, amino acids, fiber and low in fat. Edible mushrooms also contain substantial levels of
vitamins B1, B2, B12, C, D and E. In addition to being a source of nutrients, mushrooms have also been identified
as therapeutic foods that are helpful in preventing diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia
and cancer (Bobek, 1999). Mushrooms are also adversely affected by a large number of biotic and abiotic
variables, like all other crops. Fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, insects and mites are among the biotic agents
that directly or indirectly cause damage to mushrooms. In this article we are going to discuss about widely the all
causes and their management strategies.

INTRODUCTION
The 'mushroom' that first drew man's attention to fungi. As early as 5000 BC, man,' the hungry food
creature,' soon discovered that these mushrooms were edible and human use of mushrooms. The word mycology
actually means the study of mushrooms (mykes = mushrooms, logos = study). Mushrooms in the genus Agaricus
(button mushrooms, portabellas and criminis), Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms), and Volvariella (straw mushrooms)
are the fleshy fruiting bodies of fungi and include edible species. Depending on their stage of development and
variety, mushrooms are highly variable in appearance. The cap is pale grey or brown in colour and is round when
immature, but flattens out as it reaches maturity and can reach a diameter of 5-10 cm (2-4 in). Agaricus mushrooms
have a cap and stem. Pleurotus mushrooms may not have a stem and can be attached laterally to a growing
substrate such as a tree's bark instead. Smooth and elongated, Pleurotus mushrooms can reach 4-15 cm (1.5-6.0
in) in diameter. The mushrooms of Volvariella are small, with pink gills at the base of the stem and a characteristic
sac-like covering (volva). The diameter of the cap can reach 5–15 cm (2–6 in).

(1) Dry bubble

Pathogen: Verticillium fungicola
Common name: Verticillium disease, brown spot, fungus spot, dry bubble.
Dry bubble is most common and serious fungal disease of mushroom crop. If it is left uncontrolled, disease can
totally destroy a crop in 2-3 weeks.
Symptoms: Muddy brown, often sunken spots on the cap of the mushrooms and greyish, white mouldy growth
seen on cap, if infection takes place in an early stage, typical onion shaped mushrooms are produced, remain
small. Later stage mushroom becomes dry.

(2) Green Mould

Pathogen: Trichoderma viride, T. hamatum, T. harzianum T. koningii, Penicillium cyclopium, Aspergillus spp.
Common name: Trichoderma spot, Trichoderma blotch, Trichoderma mildew, Green mould
One of the most common and destructive disease in mushroom cultivation is the green mould which induce
significant quantitative and qualitative losses.
Symptoms: Pure white growth of mycelium appear on casing surface or in compost which resembles to
mushroom mycelium. Later on mycelial mat turns to green colour because of heavy sporulation of causal agent
which is a characteristic symptom of the disease.

(3) False Truffle

Pathogen: Diehliomyces microspores
Common name: Truffle disease
False truffle is a limiting factor in the production of A. bisporus in India because of its higher temperature
requirements.
www.agricosemagazine.com 60
 AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 01 (06) October 2020

Symptoms: Initially the colour of the mycelium is white, gradually the mycelial growth become thicker and
develops into whitish, solid, wrinkled, rounded to irregular fungal masses resembling like Small Brains. At
maturity they become pink, dry and reddish and finally disintegrating into a powdery mass emitting chlorine like
odour.

(4) Wet Bubble

Pathogen: Mycogone perniciosa
Common name: Wet bubble, White mould, bubble, Mycogone disease.
Symptoms: Fungus covers the mushroom with white mat of mycelium, which look like cauliflower and it
becomes creamy brown after few days. Small amber (yellowish brown) to dark brown drop of liquid develops on
the surface of the undifferentiated tissue in very high humid conditions. At this stage an unpleasant odour comes
out from the infected beds.

(5) Bacterial blotch

Pathogen: Pseudomonas tolaasii
Common name: Brown blotch, bacterial spot.
Symptoms: Brown spots or blotches on the cap, In case of severe infection on the stipes circular or irregular
yellowish spots develop on or near the margins of the cap which enlarges rapidly under favorable conditions and
coalesce to form rich chocolate brown blotches.

(6) Mummy disease

Pathogen: Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Symptoms: Fruit bodies have tilted caps and curved stalk. Base of the stem enlarged and tissue of the mushroom
becomes spongy giving mummified appearance.

The Viral Diseases

Numerous viruses of various shapes and sizes have been observed on different mushrooms. Virions
measuring 29 nm and 35 nm in diameter were found in India associated with button mushroom virus disease.

Nematodes
Nematodes are among the most deadly mushroom pests that cannot be eradicated completely once they
enter the beds, until and unless crop beds are completely destroyed and disposed of. A average of 21 species of
nematodes were reported to be harmfully involved with the cultivation of fungi from different parts of the world.
Occurrences of Aphelenchoides composticola and Ditylenchus myceliophagus species from mushroom beds have
been recorded in India. If the compost is dried gradually, these nematodes survive in a state of anabiosis for up to
two years, but they die if the compost is dried quickly.

General Management Practices

Sanitation and Hygiene: To avoid primary infection involving the use of clean compost, pasteurisation or
sterilisation of the casing soil, proper hygiene and sanitation are necessary. The floor should be cemented or tiled
for compost preparation and wrapped with a roof. After every break before the fruit bodies turn brown and spores
are ripe, regular cleaning, removal of cut mushroom stems and young half dead mushrooms also rogue out the
weed fungus to avoid its further spread. Initial infection can be checked by treating the affected patches with
formaldehyde (2 percent) solution. In controlling the disease, temperature and humidity control helps. Avoid
watering excessively.

Chemicals Use
Only a limited number of chemicals useful for mushrooms are available. This is because fungi were also
mushrooms itself, and most pathogens are also fungi, making it very difficult to choose fungicides. Furthermore
due to short planting season, residual toxicity of various chemicals is of significant concern and therefore must be

www.agricosemagazine.com 61
 AgriCos e-Newsletter (ISSN: 2582-7049) 01 (06) October 2020

kept just under the tolerance limit. For management of dry bubble, Pick and destroy infected mushroom to prevent
spread, Sanitary conditions in growth house, Lower the temperature to 14oC when disease noticed, Use clean
equipment , Control flies and mites, Bubble can destroy with salt. For wet bubble management -Sanitation in
growth house, Clean environment around cultivation area, Incorporating Benzimidazole 150 mg/l. in the casing,
Benomyl at the rate of 0.95 g/m2 , Carbendazim and Thiabendazole at the rate of 0.62 g/m2. For bacterial disease
management- Sanitation, Lowering humidity, Watering with a 150 ppm chlorine solution (calcium hypochlorite
products are used since sodium hypochlorite products may burn caps). If the mushroom stays wet, however,
chlorine has little effect since the bacterial population reproduces at a rate that neutralizes the effect of the
oxidizing agent.

(a)Mites (b) Dry Bubble (c) Wet Bubble (d) Blue Mould

(e) False Truffle (f) Bacterial Blotch (g) Mummy Disease

Springtails Management
Use of 0.05 per cent Malathion as spray for disinfection, mixing Diazinon 30 ppm in compost at the time
of filling and spray of insecticides like Malathion or Dichlorovos at 0.025–0.05 per cent conc. during spawn run
and cropping have been recommended for their control.

Mites Management
Use of Diacophal 50 EC 1- 2ml. Kelthane @ 10 litre to be added and should be sprayed from time to
time in the compost and on the wall of mushroom house.

REFERENCES
Ebeling, W. (1978). Urban Entomology. Oakland: Univ. Calif. Div. Agric. Nat. Res.
http://bugguide.net
http://www.nafis.go.ke/.
Koehler, P.G., Oi, F.M. and Aparicio, M.L. (1994). Springtails. Gainesville: Univ. of Fla. Coop. Ext. Service,
Inst. of Food and Agric. Sciences.
www.daf.qld.gov.au

www.agricosemagazine.com 62
View publication stats