Is there an organic method for controlling fungus?

Answer 1

New research conducted by the Agricultural Research Service of The US Department of Agriculture has shown some promising results in this area. It seems that natural fungi, which may be contained in compost, give plants a natural immunity to competing fungi (molds). The beneficial fungus, Trichoderma hamatum strain 382, has been shown to be active in slowing the growth of Botrytis gray mold in Begonias.

Growers interested in trying this are encouraged to add Trichoderma to their potting mix as their compost may not have the fungus in situ (in place). Commercially prepared compost may be pasteurized and would have the beneficial fungus destroyed.

It appears that Trichoderma enters the plant through the roots and thus provides systemic protection. Plants grown with Trichoderma looked better and had better market value than ones grown with commercial fungicides. Botrytis has also developed a marked resistance to chemical fungicides in recent times. For the complete article, please see the link at left.

Trichoderma [which was found in Israel, in the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot by Professor Isennberg] sounds great on paper, and a few farmers will swear by it. But it has mostly failed to produce good results in commercial practice. All organic farmers use sulfur and copper based fungicides that are organically approved, not because they are good for the environment or healthy [they are most definitely not!], but because they are mined [meaning not created or manmade in a factory so that makes it ok even if they are highly poisonous to agricultural workers and consumers alike]. They are generalistic poisons that are as bad for the environment as DDT, or even worse, only without the bad reputation.

Answer

I know that anolyte produced from electrolysis of saline by Envirolyte technology works very well and has been assessed as organic in Australia by Australian Certified Organic Pty Ltd in Brisbane. See www.envirolyte.com for more information about the technology. It should be diluted with water and sprayed or fogged and would be best produced by using KCl rather than NaCl as the plants can absorb the K whilst the plants may not like continuous applications of anolyte made from NaCl as there is some residual salt (.26%) in the undiluted solution.Try 4% anolyte and water mix and adjust to your local conditions.

It is a very economical to produce although KCl is 10 times the cost of NaCl. Even so the results are worth it. The anolyte can only be as effective as the quality of the application method.