Method of Managing Fungal and Bacterial Diseases of Fruits and Vegetables Using Pseudomonas Aureofaciens

Description of Technology Michigan State University’s invention is a method of inhibiting fungi and bacteria present in plant materials by applying biologically pure culture of Pseudonomas aureofaciens in an admixture with metabolites from the growth of P. aureofaciens and growth medium. The method is useful for controlling bacterial and fungal diseases in plants as a microbial biocide in an environmentally safe way using biological control. It is especially use useful in inhibiting fungi and bacteria in fruit and vegetable crops, shrubs, flowers and bedding plants, cereal crops, trees, and nursery stocks. It can be applied to whole plants or fruits or vegetables (prior to or after harvest, flowers, or seeds.  Key BenefitsOffers potential alternative to application of synthetic pesticidesNatural method of using P. aureofaciens considered to less toxic to non-target organisms Patent Status U.S. patent 6,348,193 Inventors A. Ronald Detweiler, Joseph Vargas, Nancy Dykema, Muraleedharan Nair Tech ID TEC1999-0041

USA