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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #245603
Title: Iodomethane phytotoxicity: potential role of plant nutrient uptake

Author
item Rosskopf, Erin
item Burelle, Nancy
item Albano, Joseph
item BROOKS, SHAN - Arysta Life Sciences
item REGISTER, KYLE - Arysta Life Sciences
item HOLZINGER, JOHN - Holzinger Flowers, Inc

Submitted to: Proceedings of International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2009
Publication Date: 10/15/2009
Citation: Rosskopf, E.N., Burelle, N.K., Albano, J.P., Brooks, S., Register, K., Holzinger, J. 2009. Iodomethane phytotoxicity: potential role of plant nutrient uptake. Proceedings of International Research Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives. 104:1-4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In the spring of 2006 multi-year studies were initiated to evaluate the efficacy of Midas™ (iodomethane:chloropicrin 50:50, Arysta LifeScience Corp., Cary, NC) for production of ornamental cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. cristata) in Martin County, Florida. Treatments were untreated check, Midas™ at 224 kg/ha (200 lb/A), and methyl bromide:chloropicrin (MeBr, 98:2) at 224 kg/ha (200 lb/A). All treatments were covered with metalized film (Canslit, Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada) following fumigation. Each plot was 1.8 m x 30 m, with four replications in a randomized complete block design. Plastic was removed 15 days after fumigation and cockscomb (‘Chief Rose’, VIS Seed Company Inc., Arcadia, CA) was seeded five days later. Although Midas™ application required equipment modifications, it provided adequate weed, nematode, and disease control and yields comparable to MeBr. In fall 2006, the experiment was repeated with treatments remaining in exactly the same locations. After two seasons of Midas treatments in the same blocks, plants began exhibiting symptoms of iron (Fe) toxicity, particularly the Bombay cultivars. Symptoms included interveinal chlorosis and necrosis, with severely reduced internodes, and significant stunting in the most severe cases. In addition to the standard sampling procedures including nematode populations, weed incidence and weights, fungal colony forming units, and plant growth, leaf tissue and soil samples were taken to compare symptomatic and asymptomatic plants. Symptoms were not observed in untreated controls or MeBr. Fertilizer application during this season was a standard 6N-6P-6K (nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium) with Fe oxide. Once symptoms were identified as Fe toxicity, this fertilizer was discontinued and calcium nitrate was applied for the remainder of the season. However, affected plants did not recover. Soil samples taken from all areas of the field indicated that water-extractable Fe levels were consistent throughout the field regardless of fumigant treatment. Leaf tissue levels of Fe were greater in symptomatic tissue. Leaf Fe levels in both asymptomatic and symptomatic tissue; however, were considered “toxic” based on nutrient guidelines for the production of cut flowers. Albano et al working on Fe toxicity in marigold, however, reported that levels of leaf Fe considered toxic were not always associated with the occurrence of Fe toxicity. Many biotic and abiotic factors influence Fe nutrition in plants including soil chemistry and microbiology; cellular levels of other nutrients; a cultivar’s susceptibility or tolerance to Fe toxicity or the ability to express Fe-efficiency; a set of physiological reactions that occur when soil Fe availability is low that increases root zone Fe solubility and enhance Fe uptake and distribution in the plant; or a combination of these factors. Considering these factors together with the plant tissue data, the use of Fe oxide, a relatively insoluble Fe source, and the higher soil pH observed in symptomatic soils, (pH 4.17 ± 0.45 and 5.44 ± 0.28, in asymptomatic and symptomatic, respectively), it appears that the Midas treatment affected soil chemistry, soil microbiology, and/or the plant to cause excessive accumulation of Fe in leaf tissue. The high levels of Fe in both asymptomatic and symptomatic leaf tissue suggest that plants responded to Fe oxide by enhancing plant physiology associated with Fe acquisition. Other abiotic and biotic factors may have contributed to the observed disorder including irrigation water alkalinity (i.e. liming agents) and soil microbial populations. Soil microorganisms release various organic substances that improve Fe solubility/availability in soils; a change in microbes or the death and decay of microbes, could alter soil-solution Fe levels. Based on the hypothesis that fertility plays a role in the observed phe