WVU Organic Research Project

Molds, Nefarious Nematodes, and Vicious Viruses)

        Diseases can be the yield limiting factor in both conventional and organic farming systems.  As growers plan a transition from conventional to organic, organic-approved methods must be used to manage plant diseases.  Maintaining a "healthy soil" is believed to be an essential step in successful organic farming, but above ground diseases can also be important.

        Research is currently underway to monitor the effect of the organic farming systems on both soil-borne and foliar diseases.  Diseases such as late blight in tomato, scab in apples, or root rot in spinach can greatly reduce the marketable yield, and specific farming practices can reduce the amount of disease observed.

        Disease monitoring has lead to additional studies to evaluate specific control practices used by organic growers.  Studies currently underway include evaluations of interplanting tomatoes with resistant varieties, cover crops to suppress nematodes in orchards, and commercially available preparations for apple and potato disease control. In addition, organic growers rely heavily on biological controls. Our studies monitor population dynamics and activity of soilborne biocontrol agents including predators and nematode-trapping fungi.