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Int’l workshop tests Australia, RP bio-fumigation studies

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (June 25) — Foreign plant pathologists and soil scientists from the Pacific, South and Southeast Asia countries are among 100 delegates to the Regional Workshop on Bio-fumigation for Soil-borne Disease Management in Tropical Vegetable Production on June 22-25 at the Gladiola Hall of the Benguet State University (BSU) here.

In a Benguet Forum, Dr. Rogelio Colting, BSU president announced that the Philippine delegates come from various local government units and farmers in La Trinidad, Atok and Kibungan towns in Benguet; Mt. Province, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Laguna, central Philippines, Bukidnon and the Davao provinces. The rest are project-based researchers from the South and Southeast Asian countries as Australia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand.

Bio-fumigation, according to BSU University Public Affairs Officer Gilda Jacalan is a process by which soil-borne pests and pathogens are suppressed by naturally occurring biocidal compounds. The compounds, adds Colting, come from plant materials which are chopped and mixed with soil and later may be trapped as gaseous substances.

According to Colting, the pathogens can be best destroyed by plants belonging to the crucifer family such as mustard, radish and cabbage. Colting said these plants are high fumigants and could rot in the soil not only to fumigate but also to fertilize.

However, bio-fumigants cannot control the acidity of the soil, according to Dr. Carlito P. Laureano, BSU’s Vice-president for Research and Extension.

“These will only control the fungus, viruses and bacteria in the soil, and therefore serve as pesticide and insecticide. Soil acidity, however, remains, Laureano told the Benguet media.

The workshops included bio-fumigation studies project findings in both Australia and the Philippines and field exercises at the BSU experimental station and Atok farms. Networking for bio-fumigation in the South and Southeast Asia and the development of a training curricula were also in the agenda.

Workshop sponsors include the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Division of Plant Industry of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) and the National Crop Protection Center of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. These agencies implemented a biofumigation project in Australia and the Philippines as part of the integrated pest management project. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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