Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF DISEASES
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Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
Man has become aware on advantages of working with nature rather than against it. Since
then, use of natural enemies and antagonist of crop pathogens, generally called biological
control (bio-con) agents, for plant diseases and pest management had gained popularity
worldwide. The widely quoted and accepted definition of biological control of plant diseases is
‘reduction in amount of inoculums or disease-producing activity of a pathogen accomplished by or
through one or more organisms’ 200 .
Assembled in this sub-section are exercises that represent some best practices and experiences
shared by FFS farmers and other organic agriculture practitioners on using biological control
methods for disease management in organic vegetable production. These include use of beneficial
organisms that suppress diseases (e.g., through competition, antagonism, and induce resistance),
practice of bio-fumigation (e.g., release of isothiocyanate gas from crucifers to control bacterial wilt
and root knot nematodes), and application of compost tea (e.g., non-aerated compost tea or NCT and
aerated compost teat or ACT).
200 Sinohin, A.M. and V.C. Cuevas. 2005. Biological control of damping-off pathogens of tomato. Paper presented during a Workshop on Integrated
Production and Pest Management in Processing Tomato: Issues and Prospects held on July 2005 at Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. 8p.