Help improve the management of viral diseases of mushrooms.
Your input is vital to protecting Australia’s mushroom industry from costly viral diseases. Agriculture Victoria is inviting growers to take part in a national survey that will map the presence of viruses in Australian mushroom crops. By contributing samples, you’ll not only strengthen the industry’s ability to detect and manage diseases like La France and patch/brown cap, but you’ll also receive confidential insights into the health of your own crops - at no cost to you.
La France disease and Mushroom Virus X (MVX) complex are viral diseases that cause significant economic losses overseas, because of poor yields due to pinning disruption and discoloured and deformed mushrooms. La France disease is present in Australia.
MVX has not been reported in Australia, but patch and brown cap symptoms, like those associated with MVX, were recently observed. The virus profile of affected Australian mushrooms differs to that observed for MVX overseas, suggesting a different viral complex might cause the disease.
As a part of a Hort Innovation funded project to understand the viruses associated with in Agaricus mushrooms in Australia, Agriculture Victoria is conducting a survey determine which viruses are present in both healthy and diseased Australian mushrooms. The information will be used to develop surveillance tools that can be used by industry for early detection, accurate diagnosis of disease, and patch and brown cap disease prevention.
The success of this survey depends on your participation:
Participation will help to improve the outcomes of the project for industry.
The participating farms will receive information about the viruses that were detected and risks associated with their detection.
All grower information will remain confidential: only de-identified data will be presented in any communications.
The cost of virus testing is free for participating growers.
Participating in the study is simple:
1. Collect mushroom samples and pack them in paper bags.
a. Each sample should contain a minimum of five mushrooms.
b. If there is disease on farm, please include at least one sample from a healthy crop along with diseased samples.
c. Symptoms of virus infection include – browning, bare patches, distorted mushrooms, premature veil opening, and poor shelf life.
2. Number the samples sequentially.
3. Complete the survey form.
4. Send the samples to:
AgriBio – Crop Health Services, SAMPLE RECEPTION - MAIN LOADING DOCK, 5 Ring Rd, La Trobe University Campus, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083.
Submission of samples for this survey closes on 30 September 2025. For further information or enquires please contact Madhav on madhav.chandarana@agriculture.vic.gov.au