Smelly white fungus could help farmers, environment

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Researchers at Montana State University say a stinky fungus from Honduras may provide farmers with an alternative to an effective, but ozone-damaging, soil fumigant.

The musty-smelling fungus, it turns out, emits a number of gases that kill or slow pathogens harmful to certain crops.

"It's early in the research. But now everything seems to look very, very good," says Barry Jacobsen, a professor of plant pathology. "The more I work with it, the more I'm impressed."

The fungus is called Muscodor albus -- loosely translated as "stinky white fungus."

Researchers believe it could become an option to replace methyl bromide, used each year by thousands of farmers to kill soil pathogens that can damage their crops.

While the fungi have shown promise in greenhouse tests, researchers say that doesn't guarantee success in the field or in broader application with different crops. They say government grants will allow additional research as well as extensive field testing, including work with strawberries, later this year.

Researchers also are collaborating with scientists at AgraQuest, a Davis, Calif., company interested in developing a fumigant, and possibly other natural and environmentally friendly products, from the fungi.

No more by 2005

Methyl bromide is an odorless, colorless gas used to fumigate soil, treat commodities in storage and control pests during government-imposed quarantines. California and Florida account for 80 percent of its use as a soil fumigant. It has been particularly popular with growers of strawberries, tomatoes and other vegetables.

A new law requires the chemical be eliminated by 2005, except for limited uses.

The gas-producing fungus may have application for treating stored grain and fighting mold on fruit and potatoes that have been damaged by handling, researchers said.

"This could lead to novel new products with significant potential for our health and welfare," said Strobel, a professor in Montana State's Department of Plant Sciences. Strobel said he discovered the fungus from a sample obtained from a rainforest in Honduras.

California strawberry producer David Murray said he'd like to give the fungus a try on his fields.

"We've tried everything I know of," said Murray, a division manager at Coastal Berry Company at Oxnard, Calif. "We're not ruling out anything at this point."

Bob Krauter, a spokesman for the California Farm Bureau Federation, said farmers worried about lower yields and lower profits that could result from products less effective than methyl bromide are trying to find what works best for their operations.