Using what comes naturally to suppress fungal diseases

摘要

FINANCIAL losses due to diseases caused by soil-borne fungal pathogens of wheat, Australia's most important agricultural export, are estimated at over 250 million dollar annually. Planting non-host crops such as oil seed crops, grain legumes or grassfree pastures can control diseases such as take-all and Fusarium crown rot. However, there is often a financial penalty in producing a lower value crop; as well, diseases caused by broad host range pathogens such as Rhizocto-nia solani are not effectively controlled by rotation.