A method for mushroom cultivation is developed which requires no manual picking and a limited packaging step. The invention also induces lesser chances of contamination and provides longer shelf life to the mushrooms. The device used for production of mushrooms comprises two parts, one basal plate perforated with holes for the mushroom pins to emerge into the container. The apertures/holes on the base of the container may be covered with casing material. The other portion is the top part functioning as a cover which could be used to secure the container in order to prevent contamination from out side, maintain the moisture level and also maintains the micro environment for growing mushrooms. The top cover is preferably also perforated for the escape of excessive moisture. When mushrooms are ready to pick, the whole container is removed and preserved at a lower temperature, such as 4° C. in a cooler or refrigerator. This method will significantly reduce the cost of mushroom production by virtually eliminating the process of harvesting and packaging. This technique of mushroom cultivation also enhances the shelf life by minimizing the level of contamination due to direct human touch and minimum exposure to the outer environment.

 

توصیف  یک فاژ جدید که توانایی از بین بردن باکتری Pseudomonas tolaasii عامل بیماری لکه قهوه ای قارچ خوراکی

Characterization of bacteriophage ϕPto-bp6g, a novel phage that lyses Pseudomonas tolaasii causing brown blotch disease in mushrooms

The bacteriophage, ϕPto-bp6g, exhibited strong bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas tolaasii, the bacterium that causes brown blotch disease in cultivated mushrooms. Analysis of phage morphology with an electron microscope revealed that ϕPto-bp6g contains an icosahedral head and a long tail, which is classified as the family of Siphoviridae. The phage was observed to lyse P. tolaasii in the broth about 4 h after inoculation, indicating a putative lytic pathway exists during bacterial growth. The whole genome of ϕPto-bp6g was completely sequenced, with a length of 26,499 bp and a G + C content of 42.7%. A total of 77 open reading frames (ORFs) as putative coding sequences were identified and annotated, whereas 43 ORFs possessed no homologs. Proteins of several ORFs showed similarity with proteins of a diverse group of phages, including Siphoviridae (5 ORFs), Myoviridae (11 ORFs), and Podoviridae (4 ORFs). Phage proteins were grouped into three categories based on their predicted functions: (i) DNA replication and nucleotide metabolism, (ii) phage particle formation, and (iii) host interaction. Since there is no identified gene encoding integrase and toxins in phage genome, phage ϕPto-bp6g could be potentially applicable as a safe biological control reagent against brown blotch disease in mushroom cultivation.