David Beyer Ph.D.

Areas of Interest

Mushroom technology, production, and farm management

Program Interests

My extension program is directed toward the educational needs of Pennsylvania mushroom farmers. Regular visits to mushroom farms are made to discuss their integrated crop management practices. Management strategies are presented to the growers at meetings and farm walks. New technology and basic growing techniques are given at the workshops held in North America or aboard.

My research is inspired by the need for improvement in crop yield and compost substrate efficiencies. The understanding of growth and development of a commercially grown organism will lead to better control and performance of that organism. The research program includes testing alternative compost substrate and casing materials to lower production cost and improve yields. I am studying nutritional factors in compost substrate that limit yield as the crop ages for a better understanding of the nutritional requirements of A. bisporus. I am interested in studying this utilization of compost substrate by the mushroom to reduce the spent mushroom substrate and provide alternative uses for its disposal. Other research interests include integrated pest management, disease control, and alternatives to pesticides. Studies of new biopesticides and alternative control methods can be carried out in the laboratory and in the controlled environment rooms at the Mushroom Research Center.

Publications

Beyer, D. M., K. O'Donnell, K. Paley, and M. P. Wach. 2013.  First Report of Syzygites megalocarpus (Mucorales) Web Mold on the Commercial Portabella Button Mushroom Agaricus bisporus in North America.  Plant Disease Jan 2013, Volume 97, Number 1

Williams, A.L., P.H. Heinemann, C.J. Wysocki, D.M. Beyer, and R.E. Graves. 2010. Prediction of odor pleasantness using electronic nose technology and artificial neural networks. Applied Eng Ag. 26(2):343-350.

Fidanza, M.A., Sanford, D.L., Beyer, D.M. and Aurentz, D.J. 2010.  Analysis of Fresh Mushroom Compost. HortTechnology 20(2) 449-453.

Beyer, D., K. Paley, J. Kremser and J. Pecchia. 2008. Influence of Organic Acids on the Growth and Development of Trichoderma aggressivum a pathogen of Agaricus bisporus. Pp.  540-555.  In: Van Gruening (Ed.) Science and cultivation of edible and medicinal fungi: Mushroom Science 17, Cape Town, South Africa, 20-24 May. South African Mushroom Farmers Association, Pretoria, South Africa (CD-ROM).

Beyer, D., R. Beelman, J. Pecchia, K. Paley and N. Chikthimmah. 2008.  Vitamin D2 content and retention in Agaricus bisporus with Ultraviolet Light irradiation. Pp. 212-218 In: Van Gruening (Ed.) Science and cultivation of edible and medicinal fungi: Mushroom Science 17, Cape Town, South Africa, 20-24 May. South African Mushroom Farmers Association, Pretoria, South Africa (CD-ROM).

Weil, D.A., R.B. Beelman, and D.M. Beyer. 2006.  Manganese and other micronutrient additions to improve yield of Agaricus bisporus.  Bioresources Technology 97:1012-1017.

Sabeh, N.C., E.F. Wheeler, P.H. Heinemann, and D.M. Beyer. 2006. Environmental conditions within small-scale Agaricus bisporus mushroom production rooms. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 22(6):907-917.

Weil, D.A., R.B. Beelman and D.M. Beyer. 2004. Effect of adding a micronutrient-rich supplement to compost on yield and quality of Agaricus bisporus. Pages 365-371.  In: Romaine, C. P., C. B. Keil, D. L. Rinker and D. J. Royse (Eds.).  Science and Cultivation of Edible and Medicinal Fungi. Mushroom Science, Vol. 16.  The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Beyer, D.M. and J.J. Kremser. 2004. Evaluation of Fungicide Tolerance and Control for Three Fungal Diseases of Mushrooms. Pages 421-429.  In: Romaine, C. P., C. B. Keil, D. L. Rinker and D. J. Royse (Eds.).  Science and Cultivation of Edible and Medicinal Fungi. Mushroom Science, Vol. 16.  The Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Heinemann, P.H., G. Preti, C. J. Wysocki, R. E. Graves, S. P. Walker, D. M. Beyer, E. J. Holcomb, C. W. Heuser, F. C. Miller. 2003. In-vessel processing of spent mushroom substrate for odor control. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. Vol. 19(4): 461-471.

Pecchia J., Beyer, D. M., and P. Wuest.  2002.  The effects of poultry manure based formulations on odor generation during Phase I mushroom composting.  Compost Sci. and Utilization. 10 (3): 188-196.

Anderson, M.G., D.M. Beyer, and P.J. Wuest. 2001. Yield comparison of hybrid Agaricus mushroom strains for resistance to Trichoderma green mold. Plant Disease 85:731-734. (3,6 20%)

Ivors, K.L., Collopy, P.D., Beyer, D.M., and Kang, S. 2000. Identification of bacterial microorganisms in mushroom compost using ribosomal RNA sequence. Comp. Sci. Util. 8(3)247-253.  (5,6 10%)

Fuente, de la M. M. E, Beyer, D. M., and Rinker, D. L. 1998. First Report of Green Mold, caused by Trichoderma harzianum, biotype Th4, on commercial mushrooms in California. Plant Disease 82 (12) 1404. (4,5; 20%)

Beyer, D. M. 1998.  The use of ion exchange resins to assess the changes in mineral element availability during the production of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus. Can. J. Botany 76 (12): 2084-2092. (1,2; 100%) Beyer, D. M. 1997. "The influence of chelating agents on the later break yield of Agaricus bisporus." Can. J. Botany 75(3):402-407. (1,2; 100%)

Beyer, D. M. and H. R. Muthersbaugh. 1996. "Nutritional factors affecting later break yield of Agaricus bisporus." Can. J. of Plant Sci. 76:835-840. (1,2; 80%)

Beyer, D. M. 1996." Kenaf core as a substitute horse bedding material used in Agaricus bisporus mushroom compost substrate," pp. 123-132 in: D. J. Royse (ed), Proc. Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. 588 pp.

Lomax, K. M., D. M. Beyer, and T. Rhodes. 1996. "Air flow effects on mushroom production," pp. 233-240 in: D. J. Royse (Ed), Proc. Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. 588 pp.

Wuest, P. J. and D. M. Beyer. 1996. "Manufactured and recycled materials used as casing in Agaricus bisporus mushroom production," pp. 241-250 in: D. J. Royse (ed.), Proc. Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products. The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 588 pp.