Biological control in greenhouse systems

T. C. Paulitz¹ and R. R. Bélanger²

Abstract
The controlled environment of greenhouses, the high value of the crops, and the limited number of registered fungicides offer a unique niche for the biological control of plant diseases.

During the past ten years, over 80 biocontrol products have been marketed worldwide. A large percentage of these have been developed for greenhouse crops. Products to control soilborne pathogens such as Sclerotinia, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium include Coniothyrium minitans, species of Gliocladium, Trichoderma, Streptomyces, and Bacillus, and nonpathogenic Fusarium. Products containing Trichoderma, Ampelomyces quisqualis, Bacillus, and Ulocladium are being developed to control the primary foliar diseases, Botrytis and powdery mildew. The development of Pseudomonas for the control of Pythium diseases in hydroponics and Pseudozyma flocculosa for the control of powdery mildew by two Canadian research programs is presented.

In the future, biological control of diseases in greenhouses could predominate over chemical pesticides, in the same way that biological control of greenhouse insects predominates in the United Kingdom. The limitations in formulation, registration, and commercialization are discussed, along with suggested future research priorities.


Source
Annual Review of Phytopathology (2001) 39: 103-133


Author Locations & Affiliations
(1) USDA-ARS Root Disease and Biocontrol Research Unit, Washington State University, 363 Johnson Hall, Pullman, Washington 99164-6430; e-mail: Paulitz@wsu.edu
(2) Département de Phytologie, Université Laval, Ste. Foy, Québec, G1K 7P9; Canada e-mail: Richard.Belanger@plg.ulaval.ca


Posted April 2010