Compost filling methods affect green mold disease incidence in commercial mushrooms

Abstract

Green mold (Trichoderma aggressivum) is an invasive disease of commercial mushrooms introduced into the US from Europe that has now spread to commercial mushrooms throughout North America. We examined potential sources of invasive green mold inoculum and the association with different compost filling technologies on a large actively producing commercial mushroom farm. Green mold foci were sampled bed by bed, generating 20,906 data points. Logistic regression was used to determine treatment differences. Mechanical filling of compost into the beds reduced green mold incidence over hand filling, apparently due to the reduced incidence of worker contact with the floor and between beds. Lower growing beds located closer to the floor had a higher incidence of green mold for both mechanical and hand filled beds. We conclude that mechanical filling and generally reducing contact with the floor and between beds will reduce spread of green mold in commercial mushroom production.