Dactylium

This disease is caused by the fungus Dactylium dendroides.

This disease is recognised by coarse cobweb-like mycelium covering infected mushrooms. This grows quickly over the surface of the casing and the mushrooms eventually turn brown and rot. As the mycelium of the fungus ages its colour changes to pink.

Dactylium usually enters a growing house on contaminated casing or by airborne spores via the inlets. It is rare to see symptoms of cobweb before the first flush. Within the growing house it is mainly spread by water splash, flies and by pickers.

1.There should be good lighting in the production house which makes identification of the first signs of cobweb less difficult.

2.Waterlogged pins or pins under any form of stress are often the conditions during which initial infection takes place so uniform watering, temperature and humidity are as essential for disease control as they are for good yields and good quality.

3.If cobweb is, or has been a problem take extra care with hygiene, remove stumps and mushroom debris from the beds after picking. This trash should be disposed off at a distant location. Flies must be kept under control and prevent the entry of mice into the house. Debris must never fall between the bags as cobweb will flourish in these areas.

4.Pickers should not lean on or let chips crush developing pins as these provide ideal sites for cobweb to become established. If cobweb is present in a production house those bags showing disease symptoms should be picked last.

5.At the first signs of cobweb, 'table' salt over tissue paper should be applied to the infection area, making sure to treat a broad area around the visible infection. Never let the cobweb develop to the white spore bearing stage.