Effects of Compost Age on the Suppression of Armillaria Mellea with Green Waste Compost Teas

Compost Science & Utilization, (2009), Vol. 17, No. 4, 237-240

Anselm Egwunatum and Stuart Lane
University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom

s.lane@plymouth.ac.uk

Nonaerated compost teas produced from composted green waste of various ages were used to challenge the growth of Armillaria mellea, the causal agent of the Honey fungus white root-rot disease. Three trials were carried out: in vitro agar based assays over a period of 16 days employing repeated application of the teas; timber billet trials over a period of 30 days using a single pretreatment; and a pot trial using deliberately infected young beech trees watered with compost teas at 4 day intervals. The compost samples used were from a commercial source and sampled after storage for one, two, three and six months. Control treatments used distilled water applications in place of compost teas. In all cases compost tea applications inhibited the growth of rhizomorphs significantly and resulted in changes in their morphology. In the pot trials none of the treatments prevented infection, but rather slowed the development of wilt symptoms. Age of compost had an effect in all trials. The results indicate that such treatments may have potential in the treatment of this damaging infection and also highlight the significance of the maturity of green waste composts and teas proposed for the suppression of plant diseases.

Copyright 2003-2010, The JG Press, Inc.