Experiment Using SoilGARD
I had put some of the SoilGard (Gliocladium virens - the beneficial fungus which is supposed to prevent damping off) in each of my seed germination containers (I am now using clear plastic petri dishes which I found at a trucking salvage store. I now use sand as the moisture holding medium in the petri dishes). The SoilGard appears to be delivered in finely ground sawdust. After several days, the sand surface in the petri dish had a dark green mold on it. The mold had a smell like what I have smelled in cheese factories. In reading about seed germination, I have found references that molds may enhance germination by giving off ethylene and/or hormone type substances as by products. The seeds germinated and poked their heads through the mold. The seedlings were healthy.
Gliocladium virens is available from Gardens Alive as "SoilGuard". It is listed in their catalogue (vol.16, No.1) on pages 52-53 . They state: "Gliocladium virens, a beneficial fungus which was recently isolated by scientisis at the U. S. Department of Agriculture". It is said to provide long-lasting broad-spectrum control of soil-borne fungus diseases including damping off diseases. They do not seem to have a web page. Their address is:
Gardens Alive!
5100 Schenley Place
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Their phone number is: 812 537-8650
The following link mentioms "Gliocladium virens " .
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/IPM/diseases/dampoff.htmlEven though the method worked, I am no longer using it as I find that adding 5 ml of 3 % drugstore type hydrogen peroxide to every 95 ml of water that I use in my seed trays is doing an excellent job of controlling the damping off.