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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 #366170
Research Project: Mitigating High Consequence Domestic, Exotic, and Emerging Diseases of Fruits, Vegetables, and Ornamentals

Location: Subtropical Plant Pathology Research

Title: Aerated steam by the 'Plant Sauna' Eradicates Powdery Mildew from Strawberry Transplants

Author
item DA SILVA JUNIOR, CLAUDIO - Universidade De Sao Paulo
item LE, VINH - Norwegian Institute Of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
item ASALF, BELACHEW - Norwegian Institute Of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
item GRIEU, CHLOE - Norwegian Institute Of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)
item WANG, NAN-YI - University Of Florida
item PERES, NATALIA - University Of Florida
item Turechek, William
item STENSVAND, A - Norwegian Institute Of Bioeconomy Research(NIBIO)

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2019
Publication Date: 8/2/2019
Citation: Da Silva Junior, C.D., Le, V.H., Asalf, B., Grieu, C., Wang, N., Peres, N.A., Turechek, W., Stensvand, A. 2019. Aerated steam by the 'Plant Sauna' Eradicates Powdery Mildew from Strawberry Transplants. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. 2019.

Interpretive Summary: The ‘Plant Sauna’ is a closed container with an even distribution of aerated steam at a set temperature. It was originally developed in Norway to disinfest greenhouse equipment but is now being adapted to treat strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) planting material for diseases and pests. Aerated steam from the ‘Plant Sauna’ was successfully used to eliminate powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) on strawberry transplants. The 'Plant Sauna' can be used as a new tool in the arsenal to manage powdery mildew and other important diseases on strawberry transplants.

Technical Abstract: The ‘Plant Sauna’ is a closed container with an even distribution of aerated steam at a set temperature. It was originally developed in Norway to disinfest greenhouse equipment but is now being adapted to treat strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) planting material for diseases and pests. Aerated steam from the ‘Plant Sauna’ has successfully been used to eliminate or significantly reduce important diseases in transplants of strawberry. Powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis) on strawberry transplants may rapidly reach epidemic levels after planting, and such plants may carry fungicide resistant strains from nurseries. The standard steam treatment of strawberry planting material developed in Florida is a 1-hour pre-treatment at 37°C to increase heat tolerance of the plants, followed by 1 hour at ambient temperature (20-25°C), and then 4 hours at 44°C. In repeated experiments with strawberry plug plants infected with powdery mildew, the disease was completely eradicated. Two hours at 44°C was also sufficient to kill the pathogen. Following the treatments, plants were kept for 21 days under conditions conducive for powdery mildew. There was no regrowth of the pathogen on leaves infested prior to the treatments, and no disease appeared on newly developed foliage. No negative effects on yields following steam treatments have so far been observed. Experiments are continued to pinpoint doses (temperature × time) necessary to manage powdery mildew on strawberry transplants.