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Viability and stability of biological control agents on cotton and snap bean seeds
Author(s) -
Elliott Monica L,
Jardin Elizabeth A Des,
Batson William E,
Caceres Jacobo,
Brannen Philip M,
Howell Charles R,
Benson D Michael,
Conway Kenneth E,
Rothrock Craig S,
Schneider Raymond W,
Ownley Bonnie H,
Canaday Craig H,
Keinath Anthony P,
Huber Donald M,
Sumner Donald R,
Motsenbocker Carl E,
Thaxton Peggy M,
Cubeta Marc A,
Adams Pamela D,
Backman Paul A,
Fajardo Julius,
Newman Melvin A,
Pereira Roberto M
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.342
Subject(s) - biological pest control , beauveria bassiana , biology , biopesticide , trichoderma , pesticide , beauveria , paenibacillus polymyxa , paenibacillus , microbiology and biotechnology , horticulture , bacteria , agronomy , genetics , 16s ribosomal rna
Cotton and snap bean were selected for a multi‐year, multi‐state regional (south‐eastern USA) research project to evaluate the efficacy of both commercial and experimental bacterial and fungal biological control agents for the management of damping‐off diseases. The goal for this portion of the project was to determine the viability and stability of biological agents after application to seed. The biological seed treatments used included: (1) Bacillaceae bacteria, (2) non‐ Bacillaceae bacteria, (3) the fungus Trichoderma and (4) the fungus Beauveria bassiana . Seed assays were conducted to evaluate the following application factors: short‐term (≤3 months) stability after seed treatment; quality (ie isolate purity); compatibility with chemical pesticides and other biocontrol agents; application uniformity between years and plant species. For the bacterial treatments, the Bacillaceae genera ( Bacillus and Paenibacillus ) maintained the greatest population of bacteria per seed, the best viability over time and the best application uniformity across years and seed type. The non‐ Bacillaceae genera Burkholderia and Pseudomonas had the least viability and uniformity. Although Beauveria bassiana was only evaluated one year, the seed fungal populations were high and uniform. The seed fungal populations and uniformity for the Trichoderma isolates were more variable, except for the commercial product T‐22. However, this product was contaminated with a Streptomyces isolate in both the years that it was evaluated. The study demonstrated that Bacillaceae can be mixed with Trichoderma isolates or with numerous pesticides to provide an integrated pest control/growth enhancement package. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry