GB800736A - Horticultural pest control agents - Google Patents

Abstract

A manure capable of controlling ellworm infestation in soil comprises animal manure treated with propagules of a predacious fungus of the class moniliaceal obtained by the aerobic and preferably the submerged aerobic fermentation of the fungus in a culture medium (see Group VI). The treatment is carried out by building the heap of manure in layers and spreading the mycelium separated from the culture on top of each layer as it is formed. After standing e.g. three months, the treatment is repeated and after further standing the manure is ready for use. Single or mixed species of fungus may be employed especially a mixture of a slow and rapid growing species e.g. Dactylaria thaumasia and Dactylaria doedycoides. Other species specified are Dactylaria candida (Nees) Sacc., Dactylela doedycoides Dreschles, Dactylella ellipsospora (Preuss) Grove, Arthrobotays canoides Dreschler, Trichothecium flagraas Duddington, and Arthrobotrys robusta Duddington.ALSO:A composition for incorporation in soil for the control of eelworm infestation comprises propagules of a predacious fungus of the class Moniliaceae in admixture with a solid organic carrier material decomposable in the soil, e.g. animal manure, shoddy, textile waste, bran and leaf mould. The fungi may be employed as a single species or mixed species. Specified are Dactylaria thaumasia Dreschler, Dactylaria candida (Nees) Sace, Dactylella doedycoides Dreschler, Dactylella ellipsospora (Preuss) Grove, Arthrobatrys conoides Dreschler, Trichothecium flagrans Duddington and Arthrobotyrs robusta Duddington. Preferably a mixture of a slow and rapidly growing fungus, e.g. Dactylaria thaumasia and Dactylaria doedycoides is employed. The propagules are prepared by growing the fungus in a culture medium containing available sources of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen under aerobic and preferably submerged aerobic conditions. The temperature is 15 DEG to 37 DEG C. and preferably 24 DEG to 28 DEG C. and the duration is 4 to 10 days, preferably 7 to 8 days. A preferred medium contains a carbohydrate, one or more amino acids, corn steep liquor and water, especially glucose, peptone, glycine, sodium chloride, corn steep liquor, maize meal and water. The aqueous medium is inoculated with spores of the fungus produced on a solid medium, e.g. agar containing maize extract and glucose. After fermentation, the mycelium is separated from the broth and may be dehydrated. The moist or dry mycelium is incorporated in the carrier which preferably supports the growth of the fungus. In the case of animal manure, mycelium is added to the manure which is then allowed to stand up to several weeks before being incorporated in the soil.