VIEW ARTICLE

Nematode Dissemination in Commercial Mushroom Houses. William A. Haglund, Associate Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Unit, Mount Vernon 98273; Dwight R. Milne, Jr., North County Community College, Saranac Lake, New York 12983. Phytopathology 63:1455-1458. Accepted for publication 27 April 1973. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-63-1455.

One hundred and six mushroom production runs were periodically sampled during their production cycle to determine the type and number of nematodes present. Aphelenchoides composticola, the only parasite recovered, occurred in 36% of the samples. This study established that nematodes did not survive pasteurization and farm workers or wind-blown debris were not major sources of contamination. Dipterous insects, principally Sphaerocerid flies, were the primary means by which newly spawned production runs became contaminated with nematodes. Modification of the insect control program designed to exclude or prevent migration of flies resulted in practical control of A. composticola.