Control of Rhizoctonia solani and Cotton Seedling Disease by Laetisaria arvalis and a Mycophagous Insect Proisotoma minuta (Collembola)

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Abstract
Laetisaria arvalis and a mycophagous, rhizosphere‐inhabiting collembolan, Proisotoma minuta, were evaluated in sterilized and nonsterilized soil for suppression of Rhizoctonia solani in a greenhouse environment. R. solani was applied to soil at rates between 10 and 150 mg of colonizedoat inoculum/kg soil. L. arvalis was applied directly to soil at 100 mg/kg or as a seed dressing, either alone or in combination with a population of P. minuta at 1000/kg soil. L. arvalis significantly reduced incidence and severity of cotton seedling disease caused by R. solani; the seed treatment provided better suppression than when L. arvalis was applied to soil. Combination of the fungal agent with P. minuta enhanced suppression of R. solani more than with either agent used alone. Control benefit was linearly increased when increased numbers of insects were applied with L. arvalis.