Field performance of a weed-suppressing Serratia plymuthica strain applied with conventional spraying equipment

In previous glasshouse experiments, the soilbacterium Serratia plymuthica, strainA153, showed strong growth-suppressingactivities against a range of broad-leavedweeds after foliar spraying. In field tests ofthis strain in spring wheat, spring barley andpotatoes, variable effects were achieved on arange of weeds including Chenopodiumalbum, Stellaria media, Polygonumconvolvulus and Galeopsis speciosa. Atone site, good suppression of C. albumwas observed when the strain was applied in atank mix with another bacterial isolate or withreduced doses of a herbicide. Effects on weedsappeared to be independent of the applicationvolume (1000, 600, 500 l ha^–1), but weedswere in some cases more strongly suppressed athigher bacterial doses. Barley yields weresomewhat reduced by the bacterial application,but wheat yields were less affected. AlthoughS. plymuthica suppressed certain weedswhen applied in the field in a simple aqueousformulation and with conventional sprayingequipment, the level of weed suppression wasunsatisfactory from a practical standpoint.