Integrated Biocontrol Sstrategies for Disease Control on Ornamentals Using Poinsettia as a Model System
Integrated Biocontrol Strategies for Disease Control on Ornamentals Using Poinsettia as a Model System
Dr. Michael Benson, Professor of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, E-MAIL: mike_benson@ncsu.edu
A BITTER PILL: DISEASE-CAUSING FUNGI GET A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE
In the greenhouse, rampant growth of disease-causing fungi is cause for alarm. But pathogen populations running amuck are nothing new in nature — where an elegant system of checks and balances manages to keep things tidy. Nature sees to it that many disease organisms have natural enemies. And plant pathologist Dr. Michael Benson is conducting critical Endowment-funded research using enemies of plant-vexing fungi to full advantage in raising healthy greenhouse crops. Benson has already documented the fungi-fighting effectiveness of two biocontrol agents: a fungus-killing fungus (BNR) and an antibiotic-producing strain of bacteria (5.5B). And he’s developed two BNR formulations, which, when added to potting media, help control soil-borne fungi.
Now, Benson is determining how his two fungi-fighters can best be used in a sequential (“step-by-step”) application program — designed to be used throughout a crop-production cycle — to control several key plant diseases, including botrytis blight, two types of root rot, and stem rot. And he’s screening the 5.5B bacterial strain for colonies with a gift for souped-up antibiotic production. Though currently poinsettias are his crop model, he expects his conclusions will have potential for applicability on a wide range of containerized plants.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT RESEARCH-PROJECT LEADER:
Dr. Michael Benson, Professor of Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, E-MAIL: mike_benson@ncsu.edu
