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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #111179

Title: WILL ANY TWO BIOLOGICAL AGENTS MANAGE ANY ONE NEMATODE?

Author
item MEYER, SUSAN

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Many microbes are antagonistic to plant-parasitic nematodes, but few biocontrol agents have been marketed for nematode management. A major obstacle to the development of successful biocontrol formulations is inconsistent performance of applied organisms. One approach to this problem has been to study the efficacy of applying two potentially synergistic beneficial microorganisms. Such combinations may have greater ability to colonize the rhizosphere, express useful characteristics in a broader range of soil conditions, and have the added benefit of exhibiting antagonism to more than one plant pest or pathogen. Conversely, combined microbes may interact antagonistically with each other. Both results have occurred when two microbes have been applied jointly as biocontrol agents. Although this lack of predictability of joint application of biocontrol agents results in slow progress, the approach offers potential for overcoming some of the problems encountered with efficacy of individually applied microbes.