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New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

Biological control of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, causal agent of Phytophthora rot of asparagus, by Pseudomonas aureofaciens PA147-2: a preliminary field trial

SCOTT A. C. GODFREY1,*
MARK W. SILBY1
PETER G. FALLOON2
H. KHRIS MAHANTY1

1Department of Plant and Microbial Sciences
 University of Canterbury
 Ilam Road, Christchurch 8004
 New Zealand
2Aspara Pacific Ltd
 P. O. Box 36, Lincoln
 New Zealand

*Present address: New Zealand Institute for Crop &  Food Research Limited, Private Bag 4704,  Christchurch, New Zealand.

Abstract   Pseudomonas aureofaciens PA147-2 produces an antibiotic that inhibits the growth of Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae, the causative agent of root-rot disease of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis). To assess the potential use of PA147-2 as a biocontrol organism, we report preliminary findings of a field application of PA147-2 to asparagus crowns. To determine the ability of PA147-2 to suppress Phytophthora rot, asparagus crowns inoculated with PA147-2 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 increase in the yield of plant material in the presence of P. megasperma var. sojae.

Keywords   Pseudomonas aureofaciens; Phytophthora megasperma var. sojae; Asparagus officinalis; biocontrol; bacterial survival; Ridomilreg. 250EC

H99019
Received 6 May 1999; accepted 23 March 2000

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