CLEMSON, S.C. — This publication will provide turfgrass managers with the information to understand how biological control organisms work, why reliable control is not being observed, and provide strategies for increasing success when using biological control organisms. While this publication discusses biological control organisms using turfgrass diseases as examples, similar concepts apply to other pests (i.e., insects, nematodes, and weeds) and other plant systems.
Introduction
Managing plant pests with biological control organisms has been a consistent area of intrigue for scientific research, particularly in plant pest control. Interest in reducing the use of synthetic pesticides has rapidly increased among the general public. This is especially true in turfgrass, where interest in biological management of pests is rooted in a desire to reduce the exposure of pets and children to synthetic pesticides. There are numerous benefits to using biological control organisms in lieu of synthetic pesticides. Typically, restricted entry intervals are shorter (or non-existent), personal protective equipment may be reduced for applicators, non-target organisms are generally less affected, and the development of pesticide resistance is reduced.1 However, these benefits are irrelevant if biological control organisms cannot provide acceptable reductions of pest damages. Lack of control is one of the most cited concerns voiced by turfgrass managers for not adopting biological control as a management tool.
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–Joseph A. Roberts and Joseph R. Doherty, Clemson Extension Land Grant Press
