Development and application of biologically-based methods to control soil-borne diseases

Authors: Mazzola, Mark; WANG, LIKUN - Washington State University; HEWAVITHARANA, SHASHIKA - Washington State University

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2018
Publication Date: 9/4/2018
Citation: Mazzola, M., Wang, L., Hewavitharana, S. 2018. Development and application of biologically-based methods to control soil-borne diseases. Symposium Proceedings. p. 106.1-106.2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Although harnessing the potential of the microbiome indigenous to agricultural soils for disease suppression has long been a goal of the research community, attaining this goal has been limited by multiple factors including an inability to effectively monitor the structure of the microbiome in a comprehensive fashion. New ‘omics’ technologies enable the characterization of consortia in natural systems and may provide the framework for manipulation of the microbiome in a manner to enhance system resilience. Directing assembly of such a microbiome may involve multiple strategies including use of the plant host as a driving force in determining the trajectory of successional processes or the application of organic amendments that specifically select for microbial characteristics functional in direct or indirect pathogen suppression. In apple, and other high value cropping systems, significant input costs are applied to the production system in order to attain the establishment of an economically viable planting. In large part, these efforts are directed toward limiting the activity of soil-borne plant pathogens, including the use of broad-spectrum biocides such as soil fumigants. This tactic can resolve the initial potential for disease progression, but commonly results in an outcome that enables rapid indiscriminate recolonization of the soil system by plant pathogenic organisms. Attempts to foster a systems approach to manage disease in such cropping environments while promoting a microbiome capable of limiting pathogen re-invasion is the desired outcome of this program. These studies pursued the development of practices to alter the trajectory in microbiome evolution in orchard soils to successfully control soil-borne disease and enhance plant productivity in a sustainable manner.