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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #154306
Title: SOIL SOLARIZATION: A COMPONENT IN CONTROLLING ROOT ROT OF RED RASPBERRY.

Author
item Pinkerton, John
item BRISTOW, PETE - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2002
Publication Date: 11/20/2002
Citation: J. Pinkerton USDA ARS, P. Bristow, Washington State University. Soil solarization: a component in controlling root rot or red raspberry. Proceedings of Methyl Bromide Alternatives Meeting. November 2002

Interpretive Summary: Soil solarization is a process that employs solar radiation to heat soil under a transparent plastic film to temperatures that are detrimental to soilborne pathogens. The objective of this research was to evaluate solarization, bed shape, and gypsum as components in an integrated program for managing root rot of red raspberry. A field experiment was established in Vancouver, WA on a site naturally infested with the root rot pathogen Phytophthora fragariae pv. rubi. Plots were solarized 26 July through 8 September 2000. In May 2001, five Willamette and Malahat raspberry plants were planted in each plot. Weed growth in the plots was rated each year. Canes were cut to the ground and weighed on 24 October 2001. Healthy and wilted primocanes of both varieties were counted on 12 August 2002. Soil temperatures were 10 C higher in raised bed, solarized plots compare to nonsolarized plots. In 2002, cane weights and cane number were greater in raised bed, solarized plots than in other treatments. Disease incidence, percent of canes that were wilted, was greatest in the nonsolarized plots. Solarization reduced weed growth in two years after solarization. Suppression of root rot observed in solarized soils was similar to that obtained with methyl bromide fumigation in prior research. Solarization appears to be a viable option in an integrated program for managing root rot of red raspberry.

Technical Abstract: Soil solarization is a process that employs solar radiation to heat soil under a transparent plastic film to temperatures that are detrimental to soilborne pathogens. The objective of this research was to evaluate solarization, bed shape, and gypsum as components in an integrated program for managing root rot of red raspberry. A field experiment was established in Vancouver, WA on a site naturally infested with the root rot pathogen Phytophthora fragariae pv. rubi. Plots were solarized 26 July through 8 September 2000. In May 2001, five Willamette and Malahat raspberry plants were planted in each plot. Weed growth in the plots was rated each year. Canes were cut to the ground and weighed on 24 October 2001. Healthy and wilted primocanes of both varieties were counted on 12 August 2002. Soil temperatures were 10 C higher in raised bed, solarized plots compared to nonsolarized plots. In 2002, cane weights and cane number were greater in raised bed, solarized plots than in other treatments. Disease incidence, percent of canes that were wilted, was greatest in the nonsolarized plots. Solarization reduced weed growth in two years after solarization. Suppression of root rot observed in solarized soils was similar to that obtained with methyl bromide fumigation in prior research. Solarization appears to be a viable option in an integrated program for managing root rot of red raspberry.