Project Number: 1275-21220-225-18
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 25, 2008
End Date: Jul 24, 2010

Objective:
The objectives of this research are to conduct laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies of various Trichoderma isolates for selective control of diseases of annual crops. The identification of isolates that induce resistance to disease in the field is of special interest.

Approach:
Candidate Trichoderma isolates will be screened to demonstrate their ability to colonize annual crops and for biocontrol of disease activity. Efforts will be made to determine if crops inoculated with endophytes as seedling have reduced disease pressure for extended time periods. Standard protocols will be used for rapid evaluation of biocontrol agents in the greenhouse. In collaboration with cooperating institutions field trials of promising isolates with biocontrol potential will be carried out. The economic impact of biocontrol agents for the control of disease will be determined.