Patent ID: 6033658
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A method for protecting plants against soil-borne plant pathogens comprising:a) mass-producing fungivorous nematodes by a method comprising sequentially,i) heat-sterilizing an artificial liquid medium comprising starch, dextrose or sucrose, a phosphate buffer, and a multiporous solid substrate which is impregnated with said liquid medium; wherein said multiporous solid substrate is a spongy material selected from the group consisting of a microporous resins, sponges, fiber linters, and fabrics;ii) inoculating said medium with a host fungus for fungivorous nematodes;iii) inoculating said medium with said fingivorous nematodes whose whole body surface has been sterilized, wherein the inoculation of said medium with said fungivorous nematodes is carried out concurrently with, or following, said step of inoculating with said host fungus; andiv) incubating said fungivorous nematodes and fungus so as to mass-produce said nematodes;b) collecting the fungivorous nematodes produced in step a); andc) inoculating soil with said fungivorous nematodes, and growing plants in said soil;whereby said plants are protected against plant pathogens in said soil.