| Abstract: | Antagonistic microorganisms introduced into the growing medium, the seed or the root, have been shown to reduce the attack of many soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi. In 1983, three experiments with Pythium oligandrum were carried out using cucumber seedlings artificially inoculated with Pythium splendens. The seedlings cv. Ideal Nova were grown in shallow boxes containing granulated rockwool fibre (Grodania). The plants were grown at a minimum temperature of 20°C in a glasshouse. Plants were treated with the antagonist either by coating the seeds, or by applying a disc of a PDA-culture to 9-day old seedlings. The pathogen was introduced 9 or 5 days later, respectively, by adding PDA culture discs to the rockwool; 15 and 38 days later, the area with attacked roots was calculated as a percentage of the box-bottom area. The experiments showed that it is possible to control P. splendens by either method of application. P. oligandrum was able to colonize the seed and rhizosphere and suppress P. splendens for at least 38 days. If future experiments are similarly positive, the methods for use in commercial horticulture should be worked out as soon as possible. |
