Insects, diseases, compost, crop management, mushrooms

Research Interests:

The mushroom research program and its facilities were unique in Canada. It was responsible for both research and extension efforts.

The research program was focused on management of various Trichoderma diseases, defining the diversity among the agents that cause bacterial blotch disease, degradation of pesticides in mushroom compost, the use of ammonia suppressants in poultry litter and their effects on mushroom composts and mushroom composting odours. Research was conducted primarily in a small-scale mushroom cultivation facility, the only one of its kind in Canada.

In a cooperative project with Dr. John Cline, investigation of the utilization of spent mushroom substrate as a soil amendment in apple orchards was conducted.

Past program activities included insect management, Verticillium-disease, specialty mushroom production, management of post-harvest mushroom quality with ozone and spent mushroom substrate for container nursery stock.

Direction for research was spawned by the research committee of the Canadian Mushroom Growers' Association (CMGA), the mushroom working group of the Ontario Horticultural Crops Research and Service Committee, and the mushroom research staff. Financial support for projects had been provided through grants from CMGA, Food Systems 2002, industry suppliers and mushroom growers. The CMGA also has apportioned funds from the Agricultural Adaptation Council and the Horticultural Farm Support and Adjustment Measure toward mushroom research.

The program was staffed by Glen Alm, research technician, and Dr. Rinker. Graduate students researched topics on Trichoderma, bacterial blotch diversity, pesticide degradation in mushroom compost and impact of ammonia suppressants in poultry manure on mushroom production . The program was also augmented through 4th year thesis projects from the Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University (St. Catharines, ON).

Selected Publications:

Rinker, D.L. (2002). Handling and using "spent" mushroom substrates around the world. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products. pp. 43-60.

Rinker, D.L. and G. Alm. (2001). Efficacy of Cyromazine to control flies that infest the mushroom crop after casing. Mushroom News: Science and Technology. 49(9):4-6.

Rinker, D.L. and G. Alm. (2000). Management of green mould disease in Canada. Mushroom Science. XV(2):617-623.

Castle, A., D. Speranzini, N. Rghei, G. Alm, D.L. Rinker and J. Bissett. (1998). Morphological and molecular identification of Trichoderma isolates on North American mushroom farms. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 64:133-137.

Rinker, D.L. and G. Alm. (1998). Efficacy and limitations of mushroom grain spawn treated with benomyl against green mould disease of the cultivated mushroom. Mushroom News: Science and Technology. 11:6-11.