![]() ![]() The overall objective of this project is to develop novel, biologically-based management strategies for integrated control of sheath blight by using brassica biofumigation cover crops and biocontrol bacterial agents combined with reduced fungicide rates and partially resistant cultivars. Brassica crops produce chemicals toxic to the sheath blight pathogen and reduce primary inoculum in soil by the process of biofumigation. Brassica cover cropping and biocontrol bacterial agents have demonstrated ability to suppress sheath blight in our research and offer a new potential for managing this disease. Rice producers, especially ratoon crop producers, are in urgent need of sustainable and environmentally-friendly management alternatives. ![]() Continual, extensive use of fungicides makes existing disease management practices unaffordable and non-sustainable. Growers mostly rely on fungicides and apply 1 million pounds of them annually to rice, costing growers 26 million dollars a year for control of diseases, primarily for sheath blight control. None of the leading high yielding cultivars have acceptable levels of resistance. Ratoon (second) crop producers have very limited fungicide options for use and suffer heavy yield losses. ![]() Sheath blight is the most serious disease, causing millions of dollars of losses annually. occurs in the South, and Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas are among the leading producers with a value of $ 2 billion annually. Non Technical Summary This is a four state collaboration research project. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |