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Title: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SOILBORNE DISEASES: THE PAST AND NEXT TWENTY YEARS

Author
item Lumsden, Robert
item Lewis, Jack
item Locke, James

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: NA.

Technical Abstract: Control for plant diseases has progressed over the past twenty years, with 35 products available worldwide (http://www.barc.usda.gov/psi/bpdl/bioprod.htm). The product, SoilGard, is marketed by Thermo Trilogy Corp. and was developed by the Biocontrol of Plant Diseases Laboratory, the Florist and Nursery Plants Research Unit, Beltsville and W. R. Grace & Co., Columbia, MD. Several environmentally motivated agricultural movements will encourage use of microbial biocontrol: 1) a ban by year 2001 of use of methyl bromide opens potential uses for biocontrol; 2) sustainable agriculture may use biocontrol in conjunction with cultural practices; 3) the mandate to convert a 75% of US agriculture to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) needs biocontrol technologies to reduce use of chemicals; 4) certification of organically-grown produce requires use of non-polluting, , natural systems, such as biocontrol, for disease control; and, 5) the Food Quality Protection Act will require use of less fungicides. These activities in the U.S. alone should promote recognition of the critical importance of biocontrol strategies worldwide.