Control of bacterial yellowing of cardoncello mushroom Pleurotus eryngii using acetic or hydrochloric acid solutions

Yellowing or bacteriosis is the most severe disease of Pleurotus eryngii, the mushroom commonly called “cardoncello” or “Ferula mushroom” in Italy. Two cropping cycles were performed with five commercial strains, to find out how acetic acid or hydrochloric acid solutions can be used to prevent or stop the disease. Pseudomonas “reactans” and other fluorescent Pseudomonads were consistently isolated from symptomatic basidiomata. The Colony-Forming-Units of total bacteria, fluorescent Pseudomonads and fungi, found in casing soil at the end of both experiments, were significantly lower in substrate bags treated with either of the two acidic solutions. This research showed that treatments with acetic acid and - to a lesser extent hydrochloric acid solutions - can reduce the spread and severity of P. eryngii yellowing.