Symposium: Commercial Biopesticides: Practice and Experience
Sponsoring Committee: Biological Control
Organizers: William F. Stoneman, Encore Technologies, McFarland, WI, and Prem Warrior, Valent BioSciences, Libertyville, IL

Thousands of research hours and dollars are spent each year studying biological agents for control of plant diseases and other crop pests. Nearly every university or USDA-ARS plant pathologist has some experience with a fungal or bacterial agent that has potential to control plant disease. Few of these agents make it to practical field application. Practicality, efficacy, economics, regulatory concerns and commercial manufacturing limitations are among the reasons many agents never reach producers. This symposium will explore three commercial biopesticides that are in the market and have a position in commercial production of food and fiber. Coniothyrium minitans is commercially marketed under the trade names Contans WG and Intercept WG. This commercial product was recently registered with the EPA. It is very useful to control of plant diseases caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor. The 2002 growing season is its second in North America. DiTera is a biological nematicide effecting against a range of species. DiTera provides effective control of some of the toughest nematodes through a unique mode of action. The benefits of using DiTera can be seen through increases in crop yield and/or crop quality. DiTera ES, a liquid formulation, can be used to control nematodes on cole crops, grapes and some tree crops. The granular formulations, DiTera G and DiTera WDG, are for use on banana tree crops and ornamentals. Bio-Save 1000, Bio-Save 100 and Bio-Save 110 have been in the commercial market for 5+ years. The active agents in these postharvest biofungicides are select strains of Pseudomonas syringae. Bio-Save 1000 has been tested for use postharvest to control dry rot and silver scurf of potatoes in storage. A survey of the work done in Idaho and Montana will be presented.

Coniothyrium minitans for practical control of sclerotinia diseases. W.F. STONEMAN. McFarland, WI

Practical alternatives for controlling white mold in snap bean production. W.R. STEVENSON, R.V. James and R.E. Rand. University of Wisconsin, Madison

Parasitism of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by Coniothyrium minitans. H.R. DILLARD and A.C. Cobb. Cornell University, Geneva, NY

DiTera: Mode of action of a biological nematicide. R.N. PERRY. Plant Pathogen Interactions Division, IACR-Rothamsted, Harpenden Herts, UK

Experiences in the field development of a biological nematicide. B.B. WESTERDAHL. University of California, Davis

Biological management of postharvest diseases. J.P. STACK. University of Nebraska, Clay Center

Control of Fusarium dry rot and silver scurf of potato with Pseudomonas syringae containing products Bio-Save 100 and Bio-Save 1000. B.J. JACOBSEN. Montana State University, Bozeman