Book Description

Biological balance. The biological world. Attributes of a successful parasite. Types of biological interactions. Man, the disrupter of balance. The changing scene. Factors involved in biological control. A plant pathologist's definition of biological control. Comparative approaches to biological control of plant pathogens and insects. Applying biological control. Biological control in plant pathology. The stature of biological control of plant pathogens. Resident antagonists. Managing the biological balance. Biological control by resident organisms and introduced organisms. Host resistance. Ecological manipulation to control weed molds and pathogens of mushrooms. Approaches to biological control with antagonistic microorganisms. Selecting soil as a source of antagonists. Antagonistic populations of whole soils. Presumptive tests of antagonists in agar culture. Tests in soil. Testing mixtures of antagonists. Plant of action. Role of the pathogen in biological control. Ways the pathogen can overcome antagonism. Vulnerability during dormancy and saprophytic growth. Populations of soilborne pathogenic fungi that produce disease. Stimulation of antagonists by the pathogen. Control of nematodes by altering the sex ratio. Role of the antagonist in biological control. Biological efficiency of saprophytic organisms. Kinds of antagonists. Forms of antagonism. The ideal antagonist. Inoculation with avirulent organisms related to the pathogen. Recontamination of soil. Biological buffering by resident antagonists. Role of the host in biological control. Root dynamics. Physical and chemical features of the rhizosphere. Root exudation and the rhizosphere effect. Cropping history and the microbiological balance of soil. Plant residues. The host as a reservoir of inoculum. Decoy, trap, and inhibitory plants. Role of the physical environment in biological control. environment operative through the host and during dormancy of the pathogen. Environment operative during growth of the pathogen. Using environment for prediction. Using environment to nudge the biological balance. Integration between biological and chemical control. Biological control of pathogens of aerial parts. Microorganisms on aerial parts. Pathogens on aerial parts. Exudation to external surfaces. Natural dissemination of epiphytes. Whither biological control?. Stage in pathogen cycle to apply biological control. Agroecosystems in relation to biological control. Applying, activating, or assisting antagonists. Large-scale production of antagonists. Integrated control. Why biological control?. The role of biological control in plant pathology.