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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146440
Title: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS

Author
item Paulitz, Timothy
item BELANGER, RICHARD - UNIVERSITE LAVAL

Submitted to: Annual Review of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/20/2001
Publication Date: 9/20/2001
Citation: PAULITZ, T.C., BELANGER, R.R. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN GREENHOUSE SYSTEMS. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY. 39: 103-133. 2001.

Interpretive Summary: Most of the biological control agents against plant pathogens have been developed for greenhouse markets. This article reviews the development of agents against both foliar and soilborne pathogens. It discusses the advantages and limitations of biocontrol strategies in the greenhouses.

Technical Abstract: The controlled environment of greenhouses, the high value of the crops, and the limited number of registered fungicides offer a unique niche for the biological control of plant diseases. During the past ten years, over 80 biocontrol products have been marketed worldwide. A large percentage of these have been developed for greenhouse crops. Products to control soilborne pathogens such as Sclerotinia, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium include Coniothyrium minitans, species of Gliocladium, Trichoderma, Streptomyces, and Bacillus, and nonpathogenic Fusarium. Products containing Trichoderma, Ampelomyces quisqualis, Bacillus, and Ulocladium are being developed to control the primary foliar diseases, Botrytis and powdery mildew. The development of Pseudomonas for the control of Pythium diseases in hydroponics and Pseudozyma flocculosa for the control of powdery mildew by two Canadian research programs is presented. In the future, biological control of diseases in greenhouses could predominate over chemical pesticides, in the same way that biological control of greenhouse insects predominates in the United Kingdom. The limitations in formulation, registration, and commercialization are discussed, along with suggested future research priorities.