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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 #171165
Title: THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUSARIUM STEM ROT IN GREENHOUSE PEPPERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

Author
item LAMB, E. M. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item SONODA, R. M. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item OXMAN, E. F. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: International Pepper Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Lamb, E., Sonoda, R., Oxman, E., Rosskopf, E.N. 2004. The effect of temperature on the development of fusarium stem rot in greenhouse peppers in south Florida. 17th International Pepper Conference Proceedings. Naples, FL. 15.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium stem rot of greenhouse peppers caused by Fusarium solani was found in south Florida in 1999. Black lesions occurred at nodes where the plant was pruned or where fruit were harvested. Tissues above the lesion appeared normal until the lesion girdled the stem at which time the plant parts above the lesion wilted and died. Greenhouse surveys conducted over a 4 month period during harvest suggested that environmental factors played a role in the number of infected plants and lesion size. Therefore, a controlled environment test was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature and cultivar on rate of disease development and severity of infection. Plants were stem inoculated with F. solani, with non-inoculated plants as a control. Five plants of each cultivar, plus controls, were incubated at ~ 31, 29, and 23 C, typical greenhouse temperatures in South Florida greenhouses. Measurements of lesion length and circumference of stem covered by visible lesion were taken ~ daily for 2 weeks starting 2-3 days after inoculation. All of the inoculated plants showed lesion development while none of the control plants developed symptoms. The severity of the disease increased with time in all treatment combinations but was significantly different only after day 9. Cultivar was not a significant factor, nor was the interaction of cultivar and time. Temperature was significant. While temperature control is often difficult in South Florida greenhouses, a reduction in temperature will slow the rate of disease development and reduce the potential yield loss due to plant wilting and death.