Minimizing Pesticide Use in a Vegetable Management System

Abstract

Disease control strategies researched over the past few decades that have made the transition from theory to application are described, including the use of biocontrol agents, disease resistance, pesticides and forecasting models. Several new and conceptually different strategies are discussed which are now being studied in the lab. and which may reach the farm in 10-15 yr, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, protoplast fusion and somatic hybridization, selection of disease resistance at the cellular level, hypovirulence and superactive biocontrol agents.