Strange substance on Jerusalem artichoke roots

[spamvindaloo]

I have been harvesting the Jerusalem artichokes as I need them and leaving the rest in the ground. Dug a load up today and found what looked like a brilliant white liquid on the bottom of the stem and stringy fibres of the same colour around the roots. None of the other plants have had this.

I continued to dig and underneath the stem I found a piece of wood which looked like it had white gloss painted on it (no idea where it came from). Forgive me if I sound like a lunatic as I have no idea if this is possible (I know little about gardening and less about paint!) but could the roots have broken down the gloss from the piece of wood in the wet soil and transferred it onto the roots and base of the stem of the Jerusalem artichoke plant? If so then would the tubers (which looked fine) be safe to eat? If it's not likely to be from the piece of wood then any ideas what it could be?

I was going to take a photo but then it started raining and I forgot.

[Bren In Pots]

Spam I've got no idea but that does sound a weird to have happened.

[Thelma Sanders]

Reckon it'll be a soil fungus/slime mould growing on the wood, and the 'chokes just happened to be be there as well. If it all washes of the roots - they're ok.

[Jungle Jane]

Does it look like the fungus sclerotinia?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=272

[spamvindaloo]

Thanks for the answers

Reckon it'll be a soil fungus/slime mould growing on the wood, and the 'chokes just happened to be be there as well. If it all washes of the roots - they're ok.

The tubers didn't have any on at all so hopefully they will be okay.

Does it look like the fungus sclerotinia?
https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profile?pid=272

It's the same brilliant white colour but it wasn't fluffy, it was more liquid like on the base of the stem with fine stringy fibres attached to the roots.

I think either way, I'll remove the affected stems and dig that bit through well to make sure there's nothing left.