This study was aimed to improve the productivity and income of mushroom farming by developing a new casing material as a substitute for clay loam casing soil, which is becoming more difficult to acquire. When the new casing materials were used for the stable production of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), a 1:1 mixture of clay loam and button mushroom media obtained after harvest supported 13% greater mycelial growth (32.0 kg/3.3 m²). This material was better than clay loam soil in preventing contamination with environmental compounds and pests. The use of an inexpensive 1:1 mixture of peat moss and coco peat resulted superior mycelial growth with 4% better yield (32.9 kg/3.3 m²) compared with conventional clay loam soil. Advantages of these casing materials included ready availability and improved productivity. Mixtures of peat moss + coco peat + zeolite (50%:30%:20%) and coco peat + coal ash (75%:25%) could substitute for conventional casing soil. Additionally, the novel mixtures containing material obtained after cultivation might be used to produce organic fertilizer.

A entomopathogenic ascomycetous fungus, Cordyceps militaris is distributed world wide and cultivated as a medicinal mushroom having many valuable biological and pharmaceutical activities. In the breeding of new C. militaris mushroom, single ascospores were isolated and tested their characteristics such as mycelial growth, mycelial density, fruiting body formation ability, the production of perithecia. Also two opposite mating types were assayed using two sets of primers specific for C. militaris, which were amplified a 191-bp fragment for MAT1-1 and 233-bp fragment for MAT1-1. F1 hybrids resulted in well-developed perithecial fruiting bodies and their crossings were confirmed by the PCR assays. New hybrids were produced showing high quality fruiting bodies in artificial media. Mycelial growth of new strain 'Dowonhongcho 2’ was better on SDAY and at 15-25°C when it was compared with that of 'Yedang 3'. The stromata of new strain were club-shaped and bright orange-red color. Its length was 7.1 cm and the cordycepin content was 0.33% on average. In comparison with 'Yedang 3', the new strain had a yield that was 7% higher and it produced fruiting bodies which were firmer. Days of fruiting body were similar with 50 days from inoculation. This cultivar may serve as a valuable one for artificial cultivation and industrial-scale production of C. militaris.

For heaths and vitality Cordyceps sinensis has been widely used as an important medicinal mushroom. C. militaris is popular for its substitute and can be cultivated artificially. Its new strains have been improved by crossing single spore strains. A bipolar heterothallic fungus, C. militaris has two strains of compatible mating types and they can be differentiated by crossing, fruiting body formation ability and the production of perithecia. Each isolate was determined to be monokaryotic or dikaryotic on the basis of perithecial formation by fruiting tests. This process was also carried out by molecular markers for the detection of two opposite mating types or F1 hybrids using two sets of primers specific for C. militaris amplifying a 191-bp fragment for MAT1-2 and 233-bp fragment for MAT1-1. Therefore the crossing of two compatible mating types resulted in well-developed perithecial fruiting bodies and their crossings were confirmed by the PCR assays for the rapid and specific detection of both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. This results showed that molecular markers provide an efficient alternative for identification of hybridal status or mating types in the breeding program for artificial cultivation and industrial-scale production of C. militaris.

Cordyceps species are important mushrooms traditionally used for heaths and vitality. C. sinensis has been widely used as a medicinal mushroom and C. militaris is popular for its substitute. C. militaris can be cultivated artificially and new strains has been improved by crossing single spore strains. As a bipolar heterothallic fungus C. militaris has two strains of compatible mating types and they can be differentiated by crossing, fruiting body formation ability and the production of perithecia. However this process is very laborious and time consuming to carry out. In this study, molecular markers were designed and used for the detection of two opposite mating types. Two mating types were assayed using two sets of primers specific for C. militaris, which were amplified a 191-bp fragment for MAT1-2 and 233-bp fragment for MAT1-1. After crossing of two compatible mating types F1 hybrids resulted in well-developed perithecial fruiting bodies and their crossings were confirmed by the multiplex PCR assays for the rapid and specific detection of both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. This results may serve as a efficient process in the breeding program for artificial cultivation and industrial-scale production of C. militaris.

The button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus is one of the most widely cultivated mushroom species. Mushroom growers inoculate compost beds with spawn, which is the vegetative mycelium and serves as the inoculum or seed for cultivating mushrooms. Various cereal grains, such as wheat, millet, barley, sorghum, brown rice, rye, and oat can be used in the spawn production of button mushroom. In this study rice seed bag spawn was compared with wheat grain bottle spawn in the spawn production. When the physical properties of two cereal grains were compared the 1000-kernel weight were 32.0g in wheat grain and 24.9g in rice seed. Number of kernels per milliliter were greater in rice seed compared with wheat grain with 24.5. Wheat grain showed 41.0% of total carbon level and 2.49% of total nitrogen level resulting 16.6 C/N ratio. Nitrogen content of rice seed was lower compared to that of wheat with 0.96 resulting 39.5 C/N. It was possible to produce 50kg of rice seed spawn in 22×49cm polypropylene filter bag with only 1~2 shakings compared to 0.45kg of wheat grain spawn in 1,000mL Ringer bottle with 4~5 shakings. Based on the results obtained, rice seed bag spawn would be appropriate substitute for wheat grain spawn in button mushroom.

Mushroom flies are one of the most serious threats to mushroom production and cultivation in Korea, and they cause significant losses in yield and quality. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and control of mushroom flies in farms where Agaricus bisporus was cultivated in Chungnam. The cultivation period was more than 7 years in the 32 mushroom farms examined; about 28% were environment-friendly cultivation farms, and 72% were conventional cultivation farms. Mushroom flies were a major pest in about 84% of the examined farms. Most of the mushroom flies were sciarids and phorids (71% and 24%, respectively). The adult flies were found throughout the year, but their occurrence was the highest in September when the temperature increased. In general, the occurrence of mushroom flies in the examined farms was high; however, insect nets and post-crop steaming programs used as basic control methods were not implemented properly. Our findings show that integrated pest management of mushroom flies is urgently required for A. bisporus cultivation in Korea.

Mushroom flies are the most serious insect pest problems affecting the cultivation of button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus Lange, and among them sciarid flies are the most common. This study was set out to determine the occurrence of mushroom flies at the mushroom farming areas in Chungnam. The occurrence of mushroom flies were highest in September as temperature increases causing yield loss of up to 27%. Adult flies invade mushroom farms and oviposit in freshly spawned compost. They spoil the appearance of the fruiting bodies, spread various fungal and bacterial disease, and transmit mites etc. Damage is mainly caused by the larvae, which feed on growing mycelium and developing stipes and caps of mushrooms. Out of 32 examined farms most of cultivation years were more than 7 years and environmental friendly cultivating farms were about 28% and conventional cultivating farms were 72%. About 84% of the examined farms selected mushroom flies as a major pests. It was found that sciarid were 71%, phorid were 24% as main mushroom flies. The occurrence density of mushroom flies were highest in September as temperature increases. The occurrence of mushroom flies at the examined farms were serious in general. However insect nets and the hygiene program as basic control were not effective. These results offer good potential for control and could implement for the integrated pest management.