Powdery mildews are important targets for the development of control agents. We developed biocontrol systems that are capable of controlling various powdery mildew pathogens, including those of grape, cucumber, zucchini, tomato, pepper, barley and strawberry. Bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi originally isolated from the canopy of wild and cultivated plants were collected and sprayed on plants before challenge by the respective powdery mildew pathogen. Activity was related to induced resistance and change of populations of indigenous microflora and/or inhibitory compounds. The purpose of the research was to improve powdery mildew control. Supplements to the cell suspension and increased frequency of applications resulted in higher population levels of the biocontrol agent on plant surfaces and resulted in better suppression of powdery mildew diseases. One yeast was sprayed at the rate of 107 twice a week in grape vineyard cv. Carignaen whereas the chemical fungicides Kresoxim methyl (Stroby at 0.02%) and Triadimenol (Shavit at 0.01%) were sprayed as recommended. Incidence of powdery mildew reached more than 90% twenty three days after initiation of the experiment and in plots of the two chemical treatments and the biocontrol treatment it was 0-15%. Three weeks later (four weeks after the last treatment) disease slightly increased and was c. 25% in the biocontrol plots and significantly less in the chemically treated plots. The severity of powdery mildew reached c. 70% in the untreated control whereas the different treatments showed minor symptoms. It is concluded that the biocontrol system can potentially serve as a management tool for powdery mildews.
Powdery mildews are important targets for the development of control agents. We developed biocontrol systems that are capable of controlling various powdery mildew pathogens, including those of grape, cucumber, zucchini, tomato, pepper, barley and strawberry. Bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi originally isolated from the canopy of wild and cultivated plants were collected and sprayed on plants before challenge by the respective powdery mildew pathogen. Activity was related to induced resistance and change of populations of indigenous microflora and/or inhibitory compounds. The purpose of the research was to improve powdery mildew control. Supplements to the cell suspension and increased frequency of applications resulted in higher population levels of the biocontrol agent on plant surfaces and resulted in better suppression of powdery mildew diseases. One yeast was sprayed at the rate of 107 twice a week in grape vineyard cv. Carignaen whereas the chemical fungicides Kresoxim methyl (Stroby at 0.02%) and Triadimenol (Shavit at 0.01%) were sprayed as recommended. Incidence of powdery mildew reached more than 90% twenty three days after initiation of the experiment and in plots of the two chemical treatments and the biocontrol treatment it was 0-15%. Three weeks later (four weeks after the last treatment) disease slightly increased and was c. 25% in the biocontrol plots and significantly less in the chemically treated plots. The severity of powdery mildew reached c. 70% in the untreated control whereas the different treatments showed minor symptoms. It is concluded that the biocontrol system can potentially serve as a management tool for powdery mildews.