1. MAJOR DISEASES OF
CULTIVATED MUSHROOM
JISHA M.S
Assistant Professor in Botany
T.K.M College Of Arts & Science, Kollam
2. INTRODUCTION
■ Mushroom are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus. All
species are saprophytes grow in moist shady places rich in humus.
They belong to the sub division basidiomycotina.
■ The vegetative body of mushroom under suitable conditions forming
fruiting bodies.
■ Mushrooms are also similar to our cultivated crops, they are
susceptible to many diseases which are due to microbes and pests.
■ During the different stages of mushroom cultivation there is a chance
for various organisms to enter and multiply in the substrate , or even
the plant body that is the mycelium.
4. ■ The common attackers infecting mushrooms are fungi, viruses,
bacteria, nematodes and insects. So, it is important to study the
diseases of mushrooms.
■ Mushrooms are affected by various pathogens and insects, therefore
it can seriously affect the crop production.
■ Nowadays mushroom research gain more attention due to the
decreased yield and even loss of the crop caused by the diseases
which will be a loss of income to mushroom growers.
■ Effective pest and pathogen control is a very important factor for
the maintenance of efficient production of cultivated mushrooms.
6. Bacterial blotch
■ The disease is also known as brown blotch and bacterial spot.
It seriously affected Agaricus bisporus and responsible for
considerable yield losses.
■ The disease was first described by Tolaas (1915) from America
and later Paine (1919) identified the organism.
■ Bacterial blotch disease reduces crop yield because lesions and
sunken blotches develop on the surface of mushroom caps
making the mushrooms unmarketable.
8. SYMPTOMS
■ In the case of white button mushroom bacterial blotch is
characterized by brown, slightly sunken blotches on the
mushroom cap. These spots are irregular, yellowish to dark
brown which merge at a later stage. In severe cases the stipes
are also affected.
■ When the mushrooms are severely affected with bacterial
blotch they get distorted and the caps may split.
9. CONTROL MEASURES
■ The casing soil should be properly sterilized. The ventilation should
be quite adequate.
■ Temperature do not exceeds 20 degree C.
■ Relative humidity above 85% should be avoided.
■ Use of chlorinated water also reduces the disease incidence.
■ Pasteurization of casing soil is seemed to be effective.
■ Preventive spray with 9 mg per square foot of terramycin on the
beds is advisable.
11. YELLOW BLOTCH
■ It is a serious disease of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
■ It was first observed in the commercial mushroom cultivation
farm in California in 1983.
■ In India, heavy incidence of yellow blotch was reported, which
resulted in complete failure of crop in some of the mushroom
units.
13. SYMPTOMS
■ The mushroom cap contains blotches of different sizes,
sometimes they may be depressed, yellow, brown or orange in
colour.
■ Infected mushrooms turn yellow and show stunted growth.
■ The mushroom shows slimy appearance when the relative
humidity become above 90%.
■ The disease incidence is more under warm and humid
conditions.
14. CONTROL MEASURES
■ Proper ventilation and temperature should be provided during
cultivation.
■ Use of chlorinated water also reduces the disease incidence.
■ Use of oxytetracycline and streptocycline have also been
reported.
