Methyl bromide fumigation versus other ways to prevent the spread of mushroom virus disease.

Abstract

The treatments comprised methyl bromide (MB) fumigation v. 2% sodium pentachlorophenate (SPCP) treatment of wooden trays in which virus-infected mushrooms had been grown; MB v. formaldehyde fumigation of healthy and virus-infected spores and mycelium; and MB fumigation of compost permeated with virus-infected mushroom mycelium. MB fumigation of the trays did not eradicate virus in the subsequent crop, whereas SPCP treatment eliminated infection. Germination by diseased spores was almost completely inhibited by MB at low concentration time products and the growth of healthy spores was greatly retarded. Mycelium was not killed by MB but growth was retarded, as was that of mycelium from fumigated spawn. Formaldehyde treatment for 24 h killed spores and mycelium. MB fumigation of compost was ineffective. Thus MB fumigation cannot replace the traditional method of cooking-out mushroom houses with live steam, followed by treatment of the wood with SPCP. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)