ABSTRACT
I Introduction ................................................................................................... 184 A Thermophilic Composts ......................................................................... 184 B Thermophilic Compost Teas ................................................................... 184 C Vermicomposts ....................................................................................... 185 D Vermicompost Teas ................................................................................ 185
II Research at The Ohio State University on Suppression of Root Pathogens of Vegetables by Vermicompost Teas........................................... 186 A Production of Aqueous Vermicompost Extracts (Teas) .......................... 186 B Design of Root Pathogen Experiments ................................................... 186 C Effects of Food Waste Vermicompost Teas on Fusarium
oxysporum Attacking Tomatoes ............................................................. 187 D Effects of Food Waste Vermicompost Teas on Phytophthora
capsici Attacking Cucumbers and Tomatoes ......................................... 187 1 Cucumber Experiments with Phytophthora capsici......................... 187 2 Tomato Experiments with Phytophthora capsici ............................. 189
E Effects of Food Waste Vermicompost Teas on Rhizoctonia solani Attacking Cucumbers and Tomatoes ...................................................... 190 1 Cucumber Experiments with Rhizoctonia solani ............................. 190 2 Tomato Experiments with Rhizoctonia solani ................................. 192
I INTRODUCTION
A Thermophilic Composts
It has been well established that plants grown with the addition of traditional thermophilically composted organic wastes tend to have lower incidence of plant disease, probably due to the development and multiplication of microorganisms antagonistic to plant pathogens (Hoitink and Kuter 1986; Chen et al. 1987). Speci¤c diseases that have been controlled by thermophilic composts include Fusarium (Liping et al. 2001; Kannangara et al. 2001), Pythium (Chen et al. 1987), Phytophthora (Hoitink and Kuter 1986), and Rhizoctonia (Kuter et al 1983). Thermophilic composts can suppress soilborne plant diseases, particularly those caused by root rot pathogens in container systems (Hoitink et al. 1997, and in the ¤eld (Drinkwater et al. 1995; Stone et al. 2003). They can also suppress Sclerotinia.
