Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226870

Title: Integrated Disease Management: Evaluating Its Parts to Get the Most Control for the Least Effort

Author
item Copes, Warren

Submitted to: Annual Horticulture Field Day Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2007
Publication Date: 10/5/2007
Citation: Copes, W.E. 2007. Integrated Disease Management: Evaluating Its Parts to Get the Most Control for the Least Effort. Proceedings of 34th Annual Horticulture Field Day. 34:1-2.

Interpretive Summary: Integrated disease management must deal with the complexity of ornamental production systems by combining multiple control practices. Rhizoctonia web blight on azalea is a difficult annual disease problem for which few controls have been developed. My research program investigates environmental and disease development to improve timing of fungicide sprays. spray technology to improve coverage, and use of disinfestants to reduce spread and build-up of pathogens. I also focus on studying how to improve efficacy of disinfestants for control of many plant pathogens. I believe we lack the knowledge to use disinfestants to their full potential. Disinfestants are a valuable part of sanitation methods and will be important in developing integrated control approaches for many diseases. The information will benefit research scientists, extension agents, and greenhouse and nursery producers by improving disease management techniques.

Technical Abstract: Disease problems develop when the surfaces of susceptible plant tissue (part 1) are colonized by a virulent pathogen (part 2) at the time when conditions are conducive for infection and disease development (part 3). Negatively effect one or more of the three parts, then disease can be minimized or eliminated. This is the basis for all disease control strategies. Development of disease control practices that benefit the operation is important because numerous plant selections of various degrees of disease tolerance are grown together at a single plant production operation. Integrated approaches deal with the complexity of ornamental production systems by combining multiple control practices. Rhizoctonia web blight on azalea is a difficult annual disease problem for which few controls have been developed. My research program investigates environmental and disease development to improve timing of fungicide sprays. spray technology to improve coverage, and use of disinfestants to reduce spread and build-up of pathogens. I also focus on studying how to improve efficacy of disinfestants for control of many plant pathogens. I believe we lack the knowledge to use disinfestants to their full potential. Disinfestants are a valuable part of sanitation methods and will be important in developing integrated control approaches for many diseases.