Biological Control of Soilborne Fungal Propagules

Abstract

In the light of present-day constraints on plant disease control practices, especially those imposed on the use of pesticides, biological control is increasingly capturing the imagination of many plant pathologists and is gaining stature as a possible practical agricultural method for soilborne pathogen control. The enhanced research activity on the subject of biologi­ cal control is in line with increased effort and determination by plant pathologists and soil microbiologists to adapt to the conceptual scheme of integrated pest management as an acceptable ecosystem approach to disease control and to realize that biological control must become one of the basic components in pest management practices. The growing realization that biological control of plant pathogens can be successfully exploited in modem agriculture has enjoyed the attention of several major symposia during the last 15-20 years and stimulated the publication of an excellent book (13). Numerous reviews have also covered the status of biological control (32, 33, 45-47, 85, 102, 105, 135, 141, 151) and its principles and mechanisms (14, 95, 149). Many ecological aspects of propagule survival in soil have also been reviewed (21, 30, 86, 93). The enhanced research activity of the last 15-20 years has greatly in­ creased our knowledge of microbial interactions in soil and of basic princi­ ples and concepts. We must admit, however, that our accomplishments in the field of applied biological control lag behind those accomplishments in the theoretical field. We must realize that few researchers seem to have