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Browse on keywords: weed Gliocladium virens fungus
Search results on 05/21/13
1387. Cony, Ann. unknown. First of kind natural herbicide reported.. Sacramento Bee (newspaper).
Richard W. Jones, of UC-Berkeley, reported the use of a natural, self-destructing herbicide capable of killing a wide variety of weeds. It is made from a common soil fungus Gliocladium virens which is artificially charged with nitrogen, thus causing it to produce a compound that is toxic to plant roots for about 2 weeks. The herbicide can kill plant roots as well, but it doesn't hurt plant stems. Thus timing and placement are crucial. The herbicide prevents germination and emergence of weed seedlings, and also produces an antibiotic that protects crop seedlings from rotting.