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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #100953
Title: BIOLOGICAL DISEASE CONTROL: CONSIDERATIONS FOR SEED TREATMENTS AND STAND ESTABLISHMNENT

Author
item Roberts, Daniel
item STROMBERG, ERIK - VPI&SU, BLACKSBURG, WV
item LACY, GEORGE - VPI&SU, BLACKSBURG, WV
item Buyer, Jeffrey

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/6/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Biological control for managing plant pathogens may allow reductions in fungicide use and achieve better disease control than current non-biological control methods. One approach, directed against soilborne pathogens, is the delivery of bacterial and fungal biological disease control agents as seed treatments for stand establishment. Effects of bacterial seed treatments on take-all of wheat (Triticum aestivum), caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, and on soilborne pathogens of cucumber (Cucumis sativum) and other vegetables is discussed. Strategies for isolation and identification of bacterial biological control agents from apparently healthy wheat plants from a field that has had severe take-all outbreaks is also discussed. Future plans regarding the evaluation of bacterial isolates alone or in various combinations as seed treatments for take-all control under field conditions are described. This information will be useful to scientists.

Technical Abstract: Biological control for managing plant pathogens may allow reductions in fungicide use and achieve better disease control than current non-biological methods. One approach, directed against soilborne pathogens, is the delivery of bacterial and fungal biological disease control agents as seed treatments for stand establishment. Effects of bacterial seed treatments on take-all of wheat (Triticum aestivum), caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, and on soilborne pathogens of cucumber (Cucumis sativum) and other vegetables will be discussed. Special emphasis is placed on strategies for isolation and identification of bacterial biological control agents from apparently healthy wheat plants from a field that has been continually cropped to wheat since 1998 and has had severe take-all outbreaks since 1992. Current research is directed toward evaluating bacterial isolates alone or in various combinations as seed treatments for take-all control under field conditions.