Identification and Characteristics of Mushrooms Grown in Vegetable Greenhouses

Soon Ja Seok1   Ki Bum Yoo1   Yong Joo Jin1   Dong Ik Kim2   Wan Gyu Kim1,*   

Abstract

Unusual mushrooms were observed in strawberry and sweet pepper greenhouses in the Hwasun area of Korea in September 2015. The mushrooms usually grew on beds in the greenhouses, frequently along with vegetables. The identity of the mushrooms in the greenhouses and effects of the mushrooms on the growth and quality of vegetables were investigated. Mushroom specimens collected were identified based on their morphological and molecular characteristics. The mushroom specimens collected from the strawberry greenhouse were identified as Leucocoprinus birnbaumii and L. ianthinus, and those from the sweet pepper greenhouse as Gymnopilus lepidotus. These were the first observations of L. ianthinus and G. lepidotus in Korea. The results revealed that the mushrooms originated from coco peat media used for the beds in the greenhouses. The mushrooms did not affect the growth and quality of the two vegetables.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant (Project No. PJ0112482015) National Institute of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea.

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