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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414155
Research Project: Discovery and Production of Beneficial Microbes for Control of Agricultural Pests through Integration into Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Microorganisms with desirable properties and the greatest potential for commercialization for biological control of tar spot in corn

Author
item Dowd, Patrick
item Johnson, Eric

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2024
Publication Date: 8/18/2024
Citation: Dowd, P.F., Johnson, E.T. 2024. Microorganisms with desirable properties and the greatest potential for commercialization for biological control of tar spot in corn [Abstract]. American Chemical Society Abstracts.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tar spot is now a major disease of corn in most of the major corn growing states in the U.S. and has caused severe economic losses in many cases. Management options are still under development. We have obtained significant reduction in the germination rates of the spore producing spots using representative strains of fungi isolated from nonviable spots, but narrowing down the candidates from the several hundred isolated for potential future commercialization requires additional criteria. Currently we are evaluating isolates for additional desirable characteristics, such as activity against other corn pathogens, lack of pathogenicity to corn leaves, and characteristics needed to grow saprophytically and thus persist as an inoculum source (such as indicators of lignin degrading ability). Examples of candidates possessing these, or other desirable characteristics will be provided.