Biological control of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, causal agent of Phytophthora rot of asparagus, by Pseudomonas aureofaciens PA147-2: a preliminary field trial
Sac. Godfrey et al., Biological control of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, causal agent of Phytophthora rot of asparagus, by Pseudomonas aureofaciens PA147-2: a preliminary field trial, NZ J CROP H, 28(2), 2000, pp. 97-103
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Agriculture/Agronomy
Journal title
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CROP AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
Pseudomonas aureofaciens PA147-2 produces an antibiotic that inhibits the g
rowth of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, the causative agent of root-ro
t disease of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). To assess the potential use
of PA147-2 as a biocontrol organism, we report preliminary findings of a f
ield application of PA147-2 to asparagus crowns. To determine the ability o
f PA147-2 to suppress Phytophthora rot, asparagus crowns inoculated with PA
147-2 were planted in Eyre shallow fine sandy loam soil inoculated with P.
megasperma var. sojae. During the 6-month trials, PA147-2 was isolated from
inoculation points with a decreasing frequency. Harvesting and analysis of
asparagus plants revealed that inoculation of crowns with PA147-2 resulted
in a 55.8% increase of fern dry weight in comparison to untreated plants.
Preliminary field trial results suggest the direct inoculation of asparagus
crowns with PA147-2 before planting causes a statistically significant inc
rease in the yield of plant material in the presence of P. megasperma var.
sojae.