Biocontrol of nematodes
A method for controlling nematodes in or on a plant, a plant part, and/or a locus for plant growth is provided, the method comprising applying to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth in need of protection from said nematodes an effective amount of Bacillus pumilus , a mutant of Bacillus pumilus , or at least one metabolite of Bacillus pumilus . In particular, the Bacillus pumilus strain may be strain QST2808.
1. A method for controlling nematodes in or on a plant, plant part, and/or a locus for plant growth comprising applying to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth in need of protection from said nematodes an effective amount of Bacillus pumilus QST2808, a mutant of Bacillus pumilus QST2808, or at least one metabolite of Bacillus pumilus QST2808.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying is preceded by the step of identifying that the plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth needs protection from said nematodes.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the identifying comprises determining that the locus for plant growth exceeds an economic threshold for nematode infestation.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the locus is soil.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is applied pre-planting.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is applied at planting.
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is applied post-planting.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is applied at a rate of about 4×10 7 to about 8×10 14 cfu per acre.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is applied to seed.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is a fermentation product.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the fermentation product comprises Bacillus pumilus QST2808, metabolites, and residual fermentation broth.
12. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a second nematicide.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second nematicide is a chemical nematicide selected from the group consisting of a carbamate, an organophosphate, and combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second nematicide is applied in combination with the Bacillus pumilus QST2808.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the second nematicide is applied in rotation with the Bacillus pumilus QST2808.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the second nematicide is a formulated commercially available product.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second nematicide is applied at a rate that is less than the rate recommended on a product label for the second nematicide were the second nematicide applied as a stand-alone treatment.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the nematodes are root-knot disease causing nematodes.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the nematodes are from the species Meloidogyne.