Morphology and Transmission of the Oyster Mushroom Virus

Abstract

An oyster mushroom viral disease was identified under farming conditions in Nakonpathom Province in thailand. Symtoms of diseased mushrooms included curling and tearing of the pileus and gill strcutures. It was also somtimes observed to cause stunting and abnormally high water uptake when mushrooms with symptoms of the disease were immersed in water. Purified preparations of the causal agent (P A) when observed under electron preparations from healthy mushrooms.
The causal agent for the disease was able to be transmitted by anastomosis and by inoculation. Inoculation of the disease could be achieved by pouring the PA into healthy hyphae in packages of compost fertilizer; by the carborundum-gauze technique to the pileus of healthy mushrooms; and by the injection of P A into healthy stipe.
Antiserum for the virus had a maximum titer of 1:1 , 024 based on the micro-precipitin test. The agargel double diffusion test was able to be used for diagnosis of this viral disease of the oyster mushroom.