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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 #271965
Title: Field evaluation of non-fumigant pest control for Florida strawberry production.

Author
item Rosskopf, Erin
item Burelle, Nancy
item BUTLER, DAVID - University Of Tennessee
item MURAMOTO, JOJI - University Of California
item SHENNAN, CAROL - University Of California
item NOLING, JOE - University Of Florida
item HE, ZHENLI - University Of Florida
item BOOKER, BRAD - Pacific Ag Research, Inc
item SANCES, FRANK - Pacific Ag Research, Inc
item CAMPBELL, TED - Strawberry Commission

Submitted to: International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2011
Publication Date: 10/15/2011
Citation: Rosskopf, E.N., Burelle, N.K., Butler, D., Muramoto, J., Shennan, C., Noling, J., He, Z., Booker, B., Sances, F., Campbell, T. 2011. Field evaluation of non-fumigant pest control for Florida strawberry production.. International Conference on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reductions. 45:1-3.

Interpretive Summary: Non-fumigant alternatives to methyl bromide are currently being sought for the commodities that have been dependent upon the use of methyl bromide. Many Florida strawberry growers have transitioned to the use of products with the active ingredient 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), but require additional approaches for buffer areas and for pests that this product does not control. Two non-fumigant alternative approaches are being tested for their applicability for strawberry production in Florida. The first is a novel compound that has no ozone depletion potential and is not harmful to humans or the environment. The material, referred to as "SPK" has been tested as a drip applied material compared to 1,3-D and to a non-chemical approach called anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD). The data collected included weed incidence, composition and weight, numbers of two kinds of plant parastitic nematodes isolated from soil and roots, crop growth parameters, incidence of soilborne disease, soil quality parameters, crop yields, and possible generation of volatile organic compounds. In addition, pathogen packets, containing inoculum of two plant pathogenic fungi were placed in beds either under the drip tape or in the bed middle. Control of the pathogens in the packets was acheived regardless of placement in the ASD and 1,3-D beds, but pathogens in the SPK treatments were best controlled in the bed center. SPK- and ASD-treated soil samples had high numbers of beneficial fungi compared to 1,3-D and the untreated soil.

Technical Abstract: A field trial was conducted in Dover, FL to determine if a novel, non-fumigant chemical and anaerobic soil disinfestations (ASD) could be used in the production of strawberries in Florida. The ASD approach developed for Florida has been successfully implemented by organic and transitional vegetable producers. This technique, which utilizes amendments to facilitate the development of anaerobic soil conditions combined with soil solarization, has provided excellent soilborne pest control in previous trials. A newly developed material, referred to as “SPK”, also has been tested for the production of vegetable crops and has proven efficacious against nematodes and plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes. Data from laboratory, greenhouse, and microplot trials looking at various rates of this material have been positive. The first season strawberry field trial was established in October 2010 and included five treatments: untreated check, two rates of SPK, InLine® (as a commercial standard, Dow AgroSciences, Indianapolis, IN), and ASD. Treatments were replicated four times. The In-Line and SPK applications were performed using a standard drip application system. The data collected included weed incidence, composition and weight, numbers of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) and sting nematodes (Belonolaimus longicaudatus) isolated from soil and roots, crop growth parameters, incidence of soilborne disease, soil quality parameters, crop yields, and generation of volatile organic compounds. In addition, pathogen packets, containing inoculum of Fusarium oxysporum and Macrophomina phaseolina were placed in beds either under the drip tape or in the bed middle. There was a significant interaction between treatment and packet placement with regard to the fungal inoculum that was placed in the beds prior to treatment. Fusarium oxysporum inoculum survival was significantly decreased by both In-Line and ASD treatments when compared to the untreated check regardless of packet placement. In SPK plots, higher mortality occurred in packets that were placed in the bed centers compared to those that were placed to the outside of drip lines toward the bed shoulder. For M. phaseolina inoculum, the higher rate of SPK was more effective than the lower rate, and the lowest number of colony forming units survived in the bed center with SPK rate 2 and In-Line. ASD, the non-chemical treatment, was equally effective at eliminating this pathogen in both packet placement locations. Soil populations of Fusarium spp., Fusarium oxysporum (Foxy), and Trichoderma were monitored throughout the trial. Immediately following treatment application, populations of Trichoderma spp., a potentially beneficial fungus, were significantly increased in plots treated with SPK. Late season populations of Trichoderma remained high in both SPK treatments and increased in the ASD plots by harvest.