EFFECTS OF THE SPRINGTAIL FOLSOMIA-FIMETARIA AND THE NEMATODE APHELENCHUS-AVENAE ON RHIZOCTONIA-SOLANI STEM INFECTION OF POTATO AT TEMPERATURES OF 10-DEGREES-C AND 15-DEGREES-C

Effects of mycophagous soil mesofauna on Rhizoctonia solani infection of potato stems were investigated in two experiments carried out in gr owth chambers at 10 and 15 degrees C. The springtail Folsomia fimetari a and the nematode Aphelenchus avenae were selected as organisms suppr essive to R. solani. Reduction in Rhizoctonia stem infection by mycoph agous soil mesofauna was equally effective at 10 and 15 degrees C. F. fimetaria tended to be more effective than A. avenae, but the best con trol was obtained when both organisms were present in the soil at high densities.