Inoculation of an industry standard light sphagnum peat potting mix with Trichoderma hamatum 382 (T382) significantly (P = 0.05) reduced the severity of Botrytis blight, caused by Botrytis cinerea, on begonia plants grown in a greenhouse. In data combined from three experiments, the degree of control provided by T382 did not differ significantly (P = 0.05) from that provided by weekly topical sprays with chlorothalonil. In addition, T382 significantly (P = 0.05) increased shoot dry weight and salability of flowering plants. Incorporation of composted cow manure (5%, vol/vol) into the light peat mix also significantly (P = 0.05) decreased blight severity while shoot dry weight and salability were increased. Blight severity on plants in this compost mix did not differ significantly (P = 0.05) from that on those in the light peat mix inoculated with T382. Finally, T382 and chlorothalonil did not significantly (P = 0.05) affect blight severity, shoot dry weight, or salability of plants grown in the compost mix. Spatial separation was maintained in begonias between the biocontrol agent T382 and the pathogen. It was concluded, therefore, that the decrease in disease severity provided by inoculation of the peat mix with T382 most likely was due to systemic resistance induced in begonia against Botrytis blight. The suppressive effect of the compost mix against Botrytis blight was unusual because composts typically do not provide such effects unless inoculated with a biocontrol agent capable of inducing systemic resistance in plants to disease.
A demonstration study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of biological and chemical control treatments on the greenhouse whitefly (GHWF) (Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Westwood) using poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild.) stock plants. Two identical greenhouse compartments, each containing 84 stock plants, were used. In the biological control compartment, three biweekly releases of Encarsia formosa (EF) were made, while in the chemical control compartment eight weekly applications of resmethrin or acephate aerosol treatments were made. Results showed that overall greenhouse whitefly populations in the chemical control compartment were slightly lower than in the biological control compartment. Cuttings taken from stock plants in the biological control compartment at the end of the experiment were commercially acceptable with regard to the presence of GHWF adults. Chemical names used: O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate (acephate), [5-(phenylmethyl)-3-furanyl] methyl 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2-methyl-1-propenyl)cyclopropane-carboxylate (resmethrin).
A 2-year demonstration study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of two sources of Encarsia formosa (EF) on the biological control of the sweetpotato whitefly (SPWF) (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) on poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima Wild.). Commercially produced EF were raised on the greenhouse whitefly (GHWF) (Trialuerodes vaporariorum Westwood), while the locally produced EF were raised on the SPWF. Results showed that SPWF populations were reduced considerably both years, and maximum nymph parasitism ranged from 60% to >80%. No large differences were observed in the ability of EF to control SPWF populations whether raised on SPWF or GHWF nymphs. This study suggests that there is potential for controlling SPWF populations on poinsettia by EF in conjunction with an integrated pest management (IPM) program.
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