May 5, 2000

Tomato and pepper farmers can now add microbes along with their transplant mix to the arsenal of production practices used to reduce yield losses caused by soilborne pathogens—including root-knot nematodes.

The microbe-amended transplant mix is being developed by Agriculture Research Service scientists at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Fla. The transplant mix, called BioYield 213, is amended with two naturally occurring soil microorganisms—Paenobacillus macerans and Bacillus amy-loliquefacien.

The mix provides the microorganisms with the environment they need to grow on the root surface of seedlings. Once this occurs, the microbes then stimulate vigorous growth and improve the health of the transplanted seedling by triggering the plant’s resistance mechanisms. This research is part of an ongoing ARS effort to provide farmers with alternatives to the use of methyl bromide, a soil fumigant being phased out by 2005.

Benefits continue to be observed in seedlings out in the field. Greenhouse producers can expect to grow seedlings in a shorter time frame and farmers can anticipate 5 to 20 percent yield increases in tomatoes and bell peppers, ARS scientists said. The mix will be commercially available to transplant producers in the fall after grower trials are concluded.