Eggplant Integrated Pest Management AN ECOLOGICAL GUIDE

__________________________________________________________________________________Major Diseases of EggplantDisease cycle of Phytophthora damping-off and root rot(from: Kerruish et al, 1994)Natural enemies/antagonistsMany successes have been reported with the use of Trichoderma sp. to prevent damping-off.Trichoderma outcompetes fungi that cause damping-off for nutrients and a place to grow around theroots (“rhizosphere dominance”). There are several species of Trichoderma. The species Trichodermaharzianum has been used successfully in tropical climates but Trichoderma parceramosum also gavegood results in field trials in the Philippines (FAO-ICP progress report ’96 – ’99). Trichoderma sp. arenow available for use by farmers in, for example, Indonesia and Thailand. More details on Trichodermain section 7.10.1.There are several other antagonistic organisms that control damping-off fungi, such as Bacillus subtilis,Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Streptomyces griseoviridis, and Gliocladiumcatenulatum. Different strains of these antagonistic organisms have been registered in the United Statesas biocontrol products to control damping-off and some other soil-borne plant diseases. In the futurethese biocontrol agents might become available in Asia.Damping-off can also be reduced in soils rich in compost. Compost contains many different microorganismsthat either compete with pathogens for nutrients and/or produce certain substances (calledantibiotics) that reduce pathogen survival and growth. Thus an active population of micro-organisms inthe soil or compost outcompetes pathogens and will often prevent disease. Researchers have found thatcompost of almost any source can already reduce damping-off disease. The effect of compost on plantpathogens can be increased by adding antagonists such as the fungi Trichoderma and Gliocladiumspecies. Such compost is called fortified compost. See section 3.8.3.1 on compost.132Eggplant Ecological Guide