PGA PLUS
RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (TRIAL 2)
Protocol:
Organica Plant Growth
Activator Plus (PGA PLUS) & other bio-control agents were applied to 10
week - old Lisianthus "Maurine Blue" grown in 6 packs containing a peat based
medium.
A randomized complete
block design with 6 replications consisting of an individual six-pack per
treatment and non-treated control replication was used. The plants were
maintained at 28 degrees C / 82 degrees F and and a 12 hour photoperiod. .
The plants were
inoculated with 15 ml soil drench containing 1x 10 to the 5Th microconidia / ml
of the active fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (a very high dose).
Plants were examined
for disease incidence and mortality once a week for 6 weeks. . All products
tested were bio-control agents. Controls and plants in soil into which
bio-controls were incorporated received only water.
Applications Rates
& Timing of PGA PLUS
1) Initial
Application Of PGA +:
- 1 - 3 days after transplantation
into 6 packs
- 1 month prior to inoculation of
pathogen
- 24 hours prior to inoculation of
pathogen
- At 2 week intervals after
inoculation of pathogen
2)
Application Rate of PGA+:
- Applied as a 10 ml soil drench
(1.2 grams of product dissolved in 1 liter of water)
- Equivalent to label rate of 2
ounces per 1000 square feet / 5.5 lbs per acre
Test Results -
Comparison to Other Biological Control Agents
PRODUCT |
FINAL MORTALITY |
AUMPC |
AUMPC |
Control |
94.4 % |
1749 |
674 |
Soil Guard |
83.3 % |
1784 |
697 |
Root Shield |
66.6 % |
1746 |
486 |
PGA PLUS |
52.8 % |
1658 |
340 |
1) AUDPC is an indicator of
how rapidly disease progresses (the lower the # the better)
2) AUMPC is an indicator of how
rapidly plants die (the lower the # the better)
3) AUMPC RESULTS: Organica's PGA
PLUS reduced the rate of plant death by 50 %, Bioworks Rootshield reduced it 28
% & Plant Health Cares Soil Guard increased rate 3
%
4) MORTALITY RESULTS: Organica PGA
PLUS reduced mortality 44 %, Bioworks Rootshield reduced it 29 % & Plant
Health Cares Soil Guard reduced it 12 %
5) Both Rootshield and Soil Guard
are EPA Registered Fungicides, PGA PLUS is not
6) Test performed by Dr. R.J.
McGovern, T.E. Seijo, D.S. Meyers and B.K. Harbaugh @ the University of Florida
- IFAS Gulf Coast Research & Education |