First Report on Purpureocillium lilacinum Infection of Indoor-Cultivated Morel Primordia

The cultivation of morel mushrooms (Morchella spp.) outdoors or in controlled indoor systems is a relatively new practice, and infections are beginning to be observed. Infection indoor-cultivated Morchella rufobrunnea initials (primordia) occurred at our research facilities Israel. mushroom turned brown, were covered with dense white mycelium foreign fungus disintegrated soon after. isolation fungal contaminant from the infected revealed small colonies pinkish spore zone on potato dextrose agar medium. Molecular identification using partial large subunit 28S ribosomal DNA rRNA internal transcribed spacer sequences identified as Purpureocillium lilacinum. Inoculation colony plat isolated caused browning inhibition mycelial growth. healthy primordium P. lilacinum spores resulted its deterioration. This first report an infection showing pathogen morels.