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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190936

Title: DISEASE SUPPRESSIVE SOILS

Author
item Weller, David

Submitted to: Proceedings of Workshop on Global Int Org Biocontrol (IOBC) Working Group
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2005
Publication Date: 6/20/2006
Citation: Weller, D.M. Disease suppressive soils. Proceedings of Workshop on Global Int Org Biocontrol (IOBC) Working Group. IOBC/WPRS bULLETIN vOL. 29(2) tHE nETHERLANDS. 2006.

Interpretive Summary: Disease suppressive soils represent a rich resource for controlling soilborne plant pathogens without off-farm inputs. Suppressiveness results from the activity of antagonistic rhizosphere microorganisms that protect the roots from pathogen attack. This review focuses on the best- described suppressive soils and the microbial mechanisms responsible for suppressiveness. It also describes the classical and contemporary approaches for elucidating the basis of suppression.

Technical Abstract: Suppressive soils have been described worldwide for a broad spectrum of plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria and nematodes. Classical approaches employed to identify the microorganisms and mechanisms involved in suppression have changed little during the last four decades. However, when classical approaches are used in combination with sophisticated techniques of molecular ecology, it is possible to more rapidly define and characterize the agents and mechanisms responsible for specific suppression. Mechanisms of suppressiveness operating in several suppressive soils are discussed below.