37th Annual Student Research Conference
Biocontrol of Fusarium Pathogens Using Plant Extracts
Dustin M. Meador
Dr. Hajeewaka Mendis, Faculty Mentor
Fusarium is a common fungal pathogen that causes diseases in numerous crops, including Soybeans. These diseases cause millions of dollars of damage to agriculture each year. The objective of this study is to isolate Fusarium pathogens in Missouri and investigate biocontrol methods to reduce growth of Fusarium species to limit crop loss. We have isolated three Fusarium species, F. oxysporum, F. graminearum and F. equiseti from local soybean fields and confirmed their identities using PCR and DNA sequencing. We are evaluating the effect of plant extracts of common cover crops, Cereal Rye, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, and various Mustard cultivars, on the growth inhibition and spore germination of isolated Fusarium species, to determine if these cover crops have the potential to reduce the Fusarium disease incidence. Results of this study will be used to determine suitability of these cover crops to reduce survival of Fusarium pathogens in soybean fields.
Keywords: Fusarium, Soybean, Plant Pathogens, Cover Crops
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 307-4
Location: MG 1000
Time: 1:30