Internal stipe necrosis of cultivated button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) is caused by the bacterium
Ewingella americana (Enterobacteriaceae), which is part of the endogenous bacterial population in mushroom sporocarp
tissues. Isolation of the causal agent of stipe necrosis led to the recovery of three bacterial morphotypes. Ewingella
americana was isolated from 90% of mushroom samples showing mild stipe browning, while Pseudomonas
fluorescens and P. tolaasii were also isolated. Inoculation with E. americana into button mushroom sporocarps yielded
typical browning symptoms which were distinguishable from those of the bacterial soft rot. This bacterium
was re-isolated and its identification was verified, thus fulfilling Koch’s postulates. However, inoculations with P.
fluorescens and P. tolaasii caused no stipe browning. The strain identities were verified by biochemical identification
and through analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences. This study has outlined the etiology of stipe necrosis of
cultivated button mushroom in Egypt, and is the first report of E. americana in this country.