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Genetic Manipulation of Broad Host-Range Fungi for Biological Control of Weeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

David C. Sands ,
Eugene J. Ford  and
R. Vincent Miller
David C. Sands
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Pathol., Mont. State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717
Eugene J. Ford
Affiliation:
Dep. Plant Pathol., Mont. State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59717
R. Vincent Miller
Affiliation:
Mycogen Corp., 3303 McDonald Ave., Ruston, LA 71270
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Abstract

Few plant pathogens are both lethal and specific enough to be effective weed control agents. In short, highly specific organisms seldom kill. Two genetic approaches to overcome this problem are to delimit the host range of lethal pathogens or to enhance the efficacy of host-specific ones. Narrowing the virulence or survival of a deadly pathogen seems more plausible than imparting new characters to a nonlethal organism. Our approach has been to genetically restrict the host range or to decrease the survival and/or spread of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, a highly virulent and aggressive pathogen of several weeds. Working with this fungus, three classes of induced mutants which meet criteria for delimitation were obtained: auxotrophic mutants that only attack plants when applied concomitantly with an exogenous source of the required nutrient; mutants unable to form sclerotia, structures required for long-term survival and precursors to fruiting bodies; and mutants with reduced virulence and/or host ranges. These studies demonstrate the validity of genetically improving bioherbicides and greatly expanding the number of fungi that may be useful as bioherbicides.

Keywords

Host rangeplant pathogenSclerotinia sclerotiorumbiocontrolweed disease
Type
Feature
Information
Weed Technology , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , September 1990 , pp. 471 - 474
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 Weed Science Society of America 

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References

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