FOCUSING ON NOVEL PEST AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR US MUSHROOM FARMS

The investigators will pursue seven related research and extension objectives focused on mushrooms, integrated pest management, and education/ outreach:?Objective 1: Detect and manage virus diseases in mushrooms.Objective 2: Design and facilitate the adoption of IPM tools to control mushroom fly populations on mushroom farms.Objective 3: Bacterial blotch management and impact on cap and substrate microbiomes.Objective 4: Determine precise thermal death points for fungal and viral pathogens during the post-crop steaming process.Objective 5: Novel broad-spectrum flavonoids from Sorghum bicolor to control fungal pathogens and insect pests of mushrooms.Objective 6: Continued design, development, integration, and usability testing of the Cropsmarts web and mobile apps for monitoring environmental variables, pests, and diseases on mushroom farms.Objective 7: Increase awareness, implementation, and economic impact of novel IPM solutions for mushroom growers.