Use of Root Shield?

beeman · August 21, 2012

I found out this year that my garden suffers from Corky Root Rot, and am looking for a preventative.
Does anyone have positive experience with Root Shield?
I see lots of posts that 'I'm trying it, or 'going to use it' but nothing after the event as whether it's any good for root problems.

RayR · August 22, 2012

You should probably contact BioWorks and see if they have tested Rootshield on the pathogens that cause Corky Root Rot and any recommendations.
There are growers that have been using Trichoderma harzianum as a biological control for Corky Root Rots. This thesis has some interesting info.

"Four commercially available biocontrol agents were evaluated for their ability to control corky root disease at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The 6 biocontrol products were Binab TF WP®, based on Trichoderma harzianum and T. polysporum; Mycostop®, based on Streptomyces griseoviridis strain K61; Prestop WP®, based on Gliocladium catenulatum strain J1446; and Glio Mix® based on Gliocladium spp. They were tested in vitro and in greenhouse experiments. All of these biocontrol agents inhibited the growth of P. lycopersici in vitro, and the biocontrols all worked better in nutrient-rich media than in nutrient-poor media. Access to exogenous nutrients is known to enhance the ability of Trichoderma spp. to control fungal pathogens. In the greenhouse experiment, all treatments except Prestop WP® led to healthier roots than the control (Hasna et al., 2009). All four commercially available biocontrols reduced the occurrence of corky root disease in vitro, and most reduced corky root rot occurrence in the greenhouse."

I would be throwing the biological kitchen sink at the problem (mycorrhizae, trichoderma and beneficial bacteria), but I do that anyway as defense against any pathogens.

amideutch · August 22, 2012

Did a little research on your problem as well and the only Trichoderma I saw mentioned was T. viride. The active ingredient in Rootshield is T. harzianum so I would look at using Biota Max as a drench/seedling dip as it has T. harzianum,T. viride, T. koningii and T. polysporum plus 5 Bacillus strains along with MycoGrow and Actinovate. Ami

August 21, 2012	#1
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Use of Root Shield? I found out this year that my garden suffers from Corky Root Rot, and am looking for a preventative. Does anyone have positive experience with Root Shield? I see lots of posts that 'I'm trying it, or 'going to use it' but nothing after the event as whether it's any good for root problems.

August 22, 2012	#3
amideutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Germany 49°26"N 07°36"E Posts: 5,041	Did a little research on your problem as well and the only Trichoderma I saw mentioned was T. viride. The active ingredient in Rootshield is T. harzianum so I would look at using Biota Max as a drench/seedling dip as it has T. harzianum,T. viride, T. koningii and T. polysporum plus 5 Bacillus strains along with MycoGrow and Actinovate. Ami __________________ Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘...Holy Crap .....What a ride!'

August 22, 2012	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	You should probably contact BioWorks and see if they have tested Rootshield on the pathogens that cause Corky Root Rot and any recommendations. There are growers that have been using Trichoderma harzianum as a biological control for Corky Root Rots. This thesis has some interesting info. "Four commercially available biocontrol agents were evaluated for their ability to control corky root disease at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The 6 biocontrol products were Binab TF WP®, based on Trichoderma harzianum and T. polysporum; Mycostop®, based on Streptomyces griseoviridis strain K61; Prestop WP®, based on Gliocladium catenulatum strain J1446; and Glio Mix® based on Gliocladium spp. They were tested in vitro and in greenhouse experiments. All of these biocontrol agents inhibited the growth of P. lycopersici in vitro, and the biocontrols all worked better in nutrient-rich media than in nutrient-poor media. Access to exogenous nutrients is known to enhance the ability of Trichoderma spp. to control fungal pathogens. In the greenhouse experiment, all treatments except Prestop WP® led to healthier roots than the control (Hasna et al., 2009). All four commercially available biocontrols reduced the occurrence of corky root disease in vitro, and most reduced corky root rot occurrence in the greenhouse." I would be throwing the biological kitchen sink at the problem (mycorrhizae, trichoderma and beneficial bacteria), but I do that anyway as defense against any pathogens.