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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 #178833
Title: SOILBORNE DISEASE AND PRODUCTION OF FRESH MARKET TOMATO UNDER ALTERNATIVE LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

Author
item Chellemi, Daniel
item Rosskopf, Erin
item Church, Gregory
item GRAHAM, J. H. - UNIV. OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Citation: Chellemi, D.O., Rosskopf, E.N., Church, G.T., Graham, J. 2005. Soilborne disease and production of fresh market tomato under alternative land management programs. Phytopathology.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An experiment was initiated in 2000 to measure the impact of alternative land management programs on soil health and production of fresh market tomato. This study reports on the incidence of soilborne disease and marketable yield following resumption of tomato production in the fourth and fifth year. Fusarium wilt was higher in plots maintained as a weed fallow or disk fallow. Disease was low in plots managed under USDA organic standards or maintained in a bahiagrass rotation. In the fourth year, Fusarium wilt was low in plots that were fumigated and cropped to tomato on an annual basis but disease increased in the fifth year. Fusarium wilt also increased when consecutive tomato crops were grown in the bahiagrass and undisturbed plots. Lowest yields occurred when strip tillage techniques were used to produce tomatoes in the bahiagrass plots, intermediate in the organically managed plots and highest in the fumigated, disk and weed fallow plots. Yields declined following consecutive tomato crops in the weed and disk fallow plots.