CONTROL OF WHITE CABBAGE DISEASES USING BIOLOGICALS

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate effects of biologicals on disease-induced damage to white cabbage plants during the growing period and on yield. Methods. Informational/analytical (collection and review of publications), field research (planning and conducting experiments, records of plant damage, harvesting and accounting of yields), phytopathological (isolation and identification of pathogens), mathematical/statistical (processing of data). The following biologicals were used in he experiments: Azotobacterin liq. (Azotobacter chroococcum IMV B-7171), Ecophosphorin liq. (Bacillus megaterium IMV B-7168, Azotobacter chroococcum IMV B7171, Agrobacterium radiobacter IMV B-7246), Planrhiz liq. (Pseudomonas fluorescens), Haupsin liq. (Pseudomonas auerofaciens), Serenade ASO SC, Serenade MAX WP (Bacillus subtilis QST 713), and Trichodermin liq. (Trichoderma lignorum TD 93). Biologicals were sprayed on plants 3-4 times during the cabbage growing period. Antifungal potentials of mixtures of biologicals with fungicides were also investigated on white cabbage. Results. During the study years, Alternaria leaf spot, Fusarium wilt, black and soft rots were dominating diseases on plantations with different varieties of white cabbage. Biologicals effectively restrained the development of both fungal and bacterial diseases of white cabbage. The protective effect of the biologicals against fungal diseases averaged 45-62%, against bacterial diseases – 65-79%. The effectiveness of mixtures of biologicals and chemicals, in which fungicides were applied at minimally permissible doses, was similar to that of fungicides applied at full doses. Biologicals, due to their protective and growthstimulating properties, significantly increased the crop yield. Conclusions. The potentials of biologicals to control fungal and bacterial diseases of white cabbage during the growing period were evaluated. The biologicals effectively limited infection-inflicted damage to cabbage. The protective effect of the biologicas against various diseases of white cabbage during the growing period of different varieties averaged 45-79%. The biologicals increased the yields of late-ripening white cabbage varieties on average by 14.5–92%.