Page 21 - Griffin Gazette Issue 3 - 2019

By Ed Bloodnick, Director, Grower growers should contact the specific
Services, Premier Tech Horticulture manufacturer or dealer for specific storage
and use recommendations to apply them.
Over the years, various biological controls
have been developed and used by
commercial growers for control of insects Insect Suppressing Bacteria
above soil line. The natural enemies of
insect pests are categorized as predators, Early work in 1990s, suggested that certain
parasitoids, and pathogens. Predators types of Bacillus bacteria could suppress
catch and eat their prey, compared to certain soil insects. Interestingly, PRO-
parasitoids that lay their eggs on, in or MIX BIOFUNGICDE+MYCORRHIZAE
®
near their host insect to later feed on them. was introduced to the market more than
Pathogens are insect disease-causing 10 years ago. Over the years Premier Tech
organisms that infect insects causing Horticulture received reports from growers
them to become sick or interfere with indicating reduction of fungus gnats and
their normal processes. While chemical thrips in their greenhouse crops. PRO-
pesticides ‘control’ insects, biological MIX BIOFUNGICIDE+ MYCORRHIZAE
®
controls ‘suppress’ insects and offer is enriched with Bacillus pumilus bacteria
another option in the grower’s ‘tool bag’. that colonize developing root systems
This is of interest for growers wanting to and suppresses root disease-causing
reduce the amount of chemical pesticide pathogens, such as Pythium, Fusarium
applications and for growers of organic and Rhizoctonia. In addition, the Glomus
crops. However, biological control of intraradices fungi contained in PRO-MIX
®
insects below soil line in the root zone can BIOFUNGICDE+ MYCORRHIZAE attaches
be a greater challenge, since there have to and colonizes root systems, working
been less options available. in symbiosis with plants. This symbiotic
relationship between fungi and plant results
Insect Suppressing Fungi in improved overall plant growth.

Some of insect-pathogenic fungi that can The series of research experiments
be used as microbial control agents for conducted over several years included
potting soils and growing media include several short-term bedding crops
Beauveria, Metarhizium, and Paecilomyces. and long term ornamental crops.
All three genera are naturally occurring and (cyclamen, poinsettia) Research
found around the world. All have different results indicated that PRO-MIX
®
species and isolates that suppress different BIOFUNGICDE+MYCORRHIZAE
host insects. These fungi are effective suppresses both insect pests, fungus
for control of some root zone insects, as gnats and thrips, to an average level of
labelled; however, they are not available 30% and 22% respectively during the
in preformulated growing media and must whole crop growing period. We also
be applied by the grower during the crop observed a reduction of fungus gnat
cycle. These are live organisms and care infestation that could reach up to 67%,
must be taken for their handling, storage for a specific time during plant culture. By
and use for effective insect control. Keep reducing the fungal food sources of certain
in mind that fungi are less robust than root zone dwelling insects with Bacillus
bacteria and may have compatibility pumilus bacteria, there is an indirect
interaction with certain chemicals that suppressive effect on insect populations.
could render them useless. Therefore,

GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2019 | 21