Fungal threats to global mushroom cultivation: diseases, competitor molds, and management strategies – a review

Mushroom cultivation, with its significant potential, not only enhances food and nutritional security but also contributes to environmental sustainability by recycling agricultural waste materials. However, this promising industry is under threat from fungal contaminations, which can manifest as destructive diseases or rapidly spreading competitor molds. These contaminants, which emerge at various stages of the cultivation process, can cause growth retardation, deformation, or decomposition of mushrooms, leading to substantial losses in both the quality and quantity of mushroom production. The economic impact of these losses underscores the importance of a comprehensive understanding of fungal diseases and competitor molds, which is crucial for developing effective management strategies to mitigate these challenges. Herein, four prevalent fungal diseases (dry bubble, wet bubble, cobweb, and green mold), along with slippery scar and yellow rot, are reviewed. The taxonomic classification of the major fungal pathogens on mushrooms is summarized at the family/genus levels, using phylogenetic trees reconstructed from previously published DNA sequences available in GenBank to illustrate their current phylogenetic placement. The morphological features of the pathogens are also illustrated. Additionally, nine competitor molds associated with mushroom cultivation are reviewed. Furthermore, for each disease and competitor mold, details on their causative agents, signs and symptoms, disease cycles, epidemiology, and management strategies are provided based on the available literature.