Fungus Gnat Prevention?

[mad librettist]

Fungus Gnat Prevention?

I've always been a fan of fungus porn so it's hard for me to look at the crab shell option. Mad L commented that going BTI right out of the gate was overkill with no obvious infestation, and that made sense, however what is the downside assuming the BTI is deployed properly? Fungus stays intact (whether it's helping the plant is a separate issue).

I'm using the stickies as a bug barometer

I'm not sure I was clear- I don't know of any reports of crab shell meal interfering with normal fungal life and interrupting the nutrient cycle. remember, most fungi only release nutrients when they die and bacteria break them down. those are the same bacteria breaking down the crab meal.

crab meal is a great everyday fert, with a nice side benefit of helping with gnats. you can use it without worry of deficiencies resulting from inhibition of fungi.

my worm bin has way less gnats, but I still see hyphae.

 

[guest2012y]

Nor does neem seed meal. If you want to add some fungi at any time,make and ACT using fish hydrolysate. I only do it a couple times per cycle and it's all good.

 

[rrog]

Mad L. I was just pulling that tidbit from that Crab shell site you sent me to.

From that site: Crab shell is also high in chitin, which promotes the growth of chitin eating bacteria. The exoskeletons of fungus ...are high in chitin. Crab shell, when added to the soil, helps create a hostile environment for the fungus and nematodes by feeding the biological life that eats the chitin based organisms. It is not classified as a fungicide or a nematocide even though it is known to have these properties.

But you're saying the fungi has to die to release nutrients. I had read (I thought) that the fungus sets up an active conduit attachment to the roots and sort of pumps in the P. Endomicorrhizae grow within the root cells...

 

[Microbeman]

Mad L. I was just pulling that tidbit from that Crab shell site you sent me to.

From that site: Crab shell is also high in chitin, which promotes the growth of chitin eating bacteria. The exoskeletons of fungus ...are high in chitin. Crab shell, when added to the soil, helps create a hostile environment for the fungus and nematodes by feeding the biological life that eats the chitin based organisms. It is not classified as a fungicide or a nematocide even though it is known to have these properties.

But you're saying the fungi has to die to release nutrients. I had read (I thought) that the fungus sets up an active conduit attachment to the roots and sort of pumps in the P. Endomicorrhizae grow within the root cells...

Normally this is only with endo and you must be good to have endo infection on cannabis roots. Fungi has many functions other than delivering nutrients. It holds aggregates, retains moisture, provides microbe roadways and degrades organic matter = predigested for bacteria.

 

[rrog]

I have learned to love the fungi.

 

[mad librettist]

Fungus Gnat Prevention?

ya mycorrhizae get all the attention, but they are not the only fungi around.

the phenomenon MM describes is cool to see on a slide. tiny particles are connected by a hypha, and you can see how "springy" soil happens.

 

[guest2012y]

Link from CC.....

http://www.jstor.org/pss/2558618




...

 

[mad librettist]

it's just an excerpt, but it describes a layer-cake type fungal wall, where chitin is sandwiched between polysaccharides - which would allow it to survive among hostile bateria, I presume.

Has anyone noticed that "good guys" tend to be "tough guys"? for instance, compare opportunistic pests like fusarium to the myco in the study.

 

[rrog]

I really enjoy this type of discussion. Thanks to all. MadL you're thinking the polysaccharide layer over Chitin would perhaps shield the Chitin from Chitin-eating bacteria?

 

[mad librettist]

I really enjoy this type of discussion. Thanks to all. LB you're thinking the polysaccharide layer over Chitin would perhaps shield the Chitin from Chitin-eating bacteria?

well yeah, it sounds like fucking polymer armor to me. Like a flak jacket for shrooms.

The excerpt describes a "stratified" composition. So picture lots of layers.

a person can be identified by their specific "microbe fingerprint", yet most human-borne diseases can be foiled with simple hygiene practices. Good guys are tough guys, and most bad guys are fragile bullies that pick on the weak.

It's a cool theme.

 

[rrog]

A very cool theme! Reminds me of why I like Lacto-B

 

[rrog]

...it describes a layer-cake type fungal wall, where chitin is sandwiched between polysaccharides - which would allow it to survive among hostile bateria, I presume.

MadL, any new insight into this? I'd like to add crab meal and would like to think the beneficial fungus is not being harmed.

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

I recently made a new batch of the awesome calcium phospate vis roasted eggshells and vinegar... cept this time i roasted some prawn heads and shells along with the eggshells.

Not very good on chemistry... will the chitin survive the process and be refined like the calcium?

Also what are the bad fungi these gnats are spreading around? Phythium?