In the maintenance and management of garden plants, pest and disease control has always been a crucial link. With the enhancement of environmental awareness and the popularization of the concept of sustainable development, the use of chemical pesticides has gradually been restricted. In this context, microbial control technology has emerged as a new favorite in the field of garden plant protection due to its green, environmentally friendly, and efficient characteristics.
Definition and Advantages
Microbial control technology is a method that uses microorganisms or their metabolites to prevent and control plant pests and diseases. It achieves the goal of protecting plants by inhibiting or eliminating harmful organisms through interactions between organisms. Compared with chemical control, microbial control has the following significant advantages:
- Environmental Friendliness: Microbial control does not use chemical pesticides, thus avoiding pollution to soil, water, and air. This is of great significance for maintaining the ecological balance of the garden environment.
- Ecological Balance Maintenance: It can protect and utilize natural enemies, maintaining the diversity of the ecosystem. In garden settings, where a variety of plants and organisms coexist, this advantage is particularly prominent.
- Low Pest Resistance: Long-term use of chemical pesticides easily leads to pest resistance, but microbial control is not prone to causing resistance. This ensures the long-term effectiveness of pest and disease control in gardens.
Application of Microbes
(I) Bacterial Microbial Agents
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely used bacterial microbial agent in garden plant protection. It has a significant control effect on a variety of lepidopteran pests, such as cabbage worms and corn borers. Bacillus thuringiensis kills pests by producing toxins that destroy their digestive systems. This agent is not only effective against pests but also safe for humans and animals, and friendly to the environment. It is an ideal choice for pest control in gardens where people often visit.
(II) Fungal Microbial Agents
Beauveria bassiana is an important fungal microbial agent, commonly used to control stem-boring pests such as longhorn beetles and bark beetles. Beauveria bassiana can invade the bodies of pests, consume the nutrients in their bodies, and eventually cause the pests to die. In addition, Beauveria bassiana can spread among pest populations, forming a natural group immunity effect, which is very beneficial for long-term control of stem-boring pests in gardens.
Trichoderma is also an important fungal microbial agent, widely used in the control of plant diseases. Trichoderma can inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria through various mechanisms:
- Nutrient Competition: Trichoderma can quickly colonize around plant roots and compete with pathogenic bacteria for nutrients and living space.
- Antagonism: Trichoderma can secrete antibiotics and other secondary metabolites to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
- Inducing Plant Immunity: It can induce the plant’s own defense response and enhance the plant’s disease resistance.
Trichoderma agents can control a variety of plant diseases, such as root rot, gray mold, and downy mildew. For example, in the cultivation of greenhouse flowers and vegetables in gardens, the use of Trichoderma agents can significantly reduce the incidence of diseases and improve the growth quality and yield of plants.
(III) Viral Microbial Agents
Polyhedral viruses are obligate parasitic viruses that have a highly effective killing effect on specific pests. For instance, the baculovirus (a type of polyhedral virus) has a significant control effect on leaf-eating pests such as pine caterpillars. Viral microbial agents infect pests and cause them to die in a short time, thereby effectively controlling the number of pests. This is particularly useful for controlling sudden outbreaks of leaf-eating pests in gardens, which can quickly damage the appearance of plants.
(IV) Compound Microbial Agents
Compound microbial agents are combinations of multiple microorganisms that play a synergistic role to improve the control effect. For example, the “three-in-one bacterial agent” is a compound agent composed of different types of microorganisms, which can be used to control various plant diseases such as powdery mildew and gray mold. This compound agent can not only directly kill pathogens but also induce the plant’s own defense response, enhancing the plant’s disease resistance. It provides comprehensive protection for garden plants against multiple diseases.
Application Cases
(I) Control of Leaf-Eating Pests with Bacillus thuringiensis
In many urban parks and green spaces, technicians use Bacillus thuringiensis emulsion to control leaf-eating pests. The results show that this green control method not only effectively controls the pests but also protects the ecological environment in the parks. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful garden scenery without worrying about the harm of chemical pesticides.
(II) Control of Stem-Boring Pests with Beauveria bassiana
In some urban green areas, technicians use Beauveria bassiana to control stem-boring pests such as longhorn beetles. By spraying Beauveria bassiana agents on tree trunks, the larvae of the pests are effectively infected, and the mortality rate is significantly increased. This method not only reduces the damage of pests to trees but also avoids the potential harm of chemical pesticides to trees, ensuring the healthy growth of garden trees.
(III) Control of Plant Diseases with Trichoderma
In some urban green belts and parks, technicians use Trichoderma agents to control root rot. The results show that after using Trichoderma agents, the incidence of diseases is significantly reduced, and the growth status of plants is obviously improved. This green control method not only effectively controls the diseases but also protects the ecological environment in the green belts, making the garden landscape more beautiful.
Challenges and Prospects
Although microbial control technology has many advantages, it still faces some challenges in practical application. For example, the effect of microbial agents may be greatly affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, requiring adjustments according to specific conditions. In garden environments with complex microclimates, this problem is more prominent. In addition, the research, development, and promotion of microbial control technology require more scientific research investment and policy support.
However, looking to the future, with the continuous progress of biotechnology and people’s increasing emphasis on ecological environment protection, microbial control technology will play a greater role in garden plant protection. We expect that microbial control technology can bring more green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable solutions to garden greening, making our cities more beautiful and healthy.
Microbial control technology is not only a scientific control method but also a green ecological management concept. It brings new hope to garden plant protection and adds more green and harmony to our living environment. Let us look forward to the wide application of microbial control technology in garden plant protection and jointly protect our green home.
