Mushroom Production and Cobweb Disease †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about theMushroom Production and Cobweb Disease. Answer: Cobweb Disease is a common fungal disease in cultivated mushroom (Agaricusbisporus) and the main causative agents are Cladobotryummycophilum, Cladobotryumdendroides, Cladobotryumvarium, Cladobotryummultiseptatum, Cladobotryumverticillatum (Kim et al. 82-89) Signs and Symptoms of the mushrooms The main signs and symptoms of Cobweb Disease are severe spotting syndromes along with early crop termination. The cobweb-like growth of the fungal mycelium over the entire surface of the mushroom signifies the name of the disease. These colonies of the fungi present on the surface of the mushroom rapidly multiplies and overwhelms the entire mushroom and lead to the development of uncountable spores within a span of 3 to 4 days. The surface which is exposed to maximum colonization turns pale brown or yellow. In other incidences, the infected mushroom may become reddish along with cracking of the stripe surface. Upon major colonization of the fungal infection, the fruit body turns dark brown and eventually become rancid (Kim et al. 82-89). Mode of Action of the Pathogen The spores formed by the pathogen are multicellular in nature and are relatively large. However, these large spores can be easily dislodged from the sporulating under the application of external force or disturbances like air circulation and harvesting. These airborne spores from the affected crops are found to contaminate the reusable plastic bottles used to culture mushrooms and other substrates, leading to the rapid spread of the disease from one farm to another. Thus it can be considered as the main mode of disease transmission (Kim et al. 82-89). Response of the Host The main response of the host is loss of production upon the fungal infection. The fungal infection also leads to the reduction in the total surface area of the crop (Carrasco et al. 214-224). How the pest infects during Commercial Mushroom Production The fungus grows over the casing and over the infected mushroom. The first stage of the disease resembles spiders web that quickly evolves towards a dense mass of spores via sporulation. The pathogen also cause cap spotting that which leads to loss of quality (Gea et al. 129-139). Disease Management: How Producers Control Infection The main tool that is used for the disease prevention is the use of fungicides like benomyl and cardendazim. Continued use of benimidazole fungicides has been found to increase the selection pressure on the pre-existing sensitive group of population. This is because benomyl and carbendazim must be used with caution. Complex of active ingredient like thiophanate methyl and prochlorazmanaganese is used to prevent the risk of the pathogen from transforming into fungicide resistant (Kim et al. 82-89). Other approaches used for disease control include correct use of the disinfection of the spent mushroom compost after the termination of the crop cycle, switching of the fan to prevent airborne spread of pathogen and avoiding water contact near or over the patches (Carrasco et al. 214-224) References Carrasco, J., et al. "Incidence, identification and pathogenicity of Cladobotryummycophilum, causal agent of cobweb disease on Agaricusbisporus mushroom crops in Spain."Annals of applied biology168.2 (2016): 214-224. Carrasco, Jaime, Mara-Jess Navarro, and Francisco J. Gea. "Cobweb, a serious pathology in mushroom crops: A review."Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research15.2 (2017): 10-01. Gea, Francisco J., et al. "Characterization and pathogenicity of Cladobotryummycophilum in Spanish Pleurotuseryngii mushroom crops and its sensitivity to fungicides."European Journal of Plant Pathology147.1 (2017): 129-139. Kim, Min Keun, et al. "Fungicide sensitivity and characterization of cobweb disease on a Pleurotuseryngii mushroom crop caused by Cladobotryummycophilum."The plant pathology journal30.1 (2014): 82.