Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference paper2011Peer reviewed

Interactions between growing media and biocontrol agents in closed hydroponic systems

Khalil, S.; Hultberg, M.; Alsanius, B. W.

Abstract

Biological control is an environmentally sound alternative for the control of root diseases in closed hydroponic systems. The effect of biological control agents (BCA) under greenhouse and field conditions, however, is frequently inconsistent. The aim of the current investigations was to study the effect of two different growing media, peat and pumice, on the performance of two commercial biocontrol agents, Binab T with Trichoderma polysporum and Trichoderma harzianum as active strains and Mycostop with Streptomyces griseoviridis as active strain against root pathogens Pythium aphanidermatum (PA) and Phytophthora cryptogea (PC). Tomato was used as a model plant. Investigations were carried out in a climate chamber as well as in the greenhouse. In the climate chamber, disease control varied with respect to the biocontrol agents and the type of the pathogen present in the system. Amendment of Binab T or Mycostop reduced the amount of the added pathogens in the cultivation system. Mycostop was the most effective biocontrol agent when pumice was used while Binab T was the most effective agent in peat. In the greenhouse, both Binab T and Mycostop showed good biocontrol activity at an early stage of the cultivation period but this activity decreased as the plants became older.

Keywords

tomato; Trichoderma harzianum; Trichoderma polysporum; Streptomyces griseoviridis; Pythium aphanidermatum; Phytophthora cryptogea; pumice; peat

Published in

Acta Horticulturae
2011, Volume: 891, pages: 51-57
Title: International Symposium on Growing Media and Composting
ISBN: 978-90-66057-33-3, eISBN: 978-90-6605-733-3
Publisher: ISHS

Conference

International Symposium on Growing Media and Composting, JUN 01-05, 2009, Charlotte, NC

      SLU Authors

    • Khalil, Samar

      • Horticulture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
      • UKÄ Subject classification

        Horticulture
        Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use

        Publication identifier

        DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2011.891.4

        Permanent link to this page (URI)

        https://res.slu.se/id/publ/35915