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United States Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Research Service research programs in biological control of plant diseases
Author(s) -
Roberts Daniel P,
Lohrke Scott M
Publication year - 2003
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.613
Subject(s) - agriculture , service (business) , research program , business , control (management) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , ecology , economics , management , marketing , philosophy , epistemology
Abstract A number of USDA–ARS programs directed at overcoming impediments to the use of biocontrol agents on a commercial scale are described. These include improvements in screening techniques, taxonomic studies to identify beneficial strains more precisely, and studies on various aspects of the large‐scale production of biocontrol agents. Another broad area of studies covers the ecological aspects of biocontrol agents—their interaction with the pathogen, with the plant and with other aspects of the environmental complex. Examples of these studies are given and their relevance to the further development and expansion of biocontrol agents is discussed. Published in 2003 for SCI by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.