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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402003
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Planting-hole steam application for pathogen and weed control in organic strawberry in Southern California

Author
item DAUGOVISH, OLEG - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item FENNIMORE, STEVE - University Of California
item BROOME, JENNY - Driscoll'S
item ODDBJORN, BERGEM - Non ARS Employee
item IVORS, KELLY - Driscoll'S
item Henry, Peter

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2023
Publication Date: 6/6/2023
Citation: Daugovish, O., Fennimore, S., Broome, J., Oddbjorn, B., Ivors, K., Henry, P.M. 2023. Planting-hole steam application for pathogen and weed control in organic strawberry in Southern California. International Symposium on Soil and Substrate Disinfestation, June 6-8, 2023, Almeria, Spain.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Organic strawberry production has been expanding in California, but opportunities for crop rotation are limited due to lack of organically certified fields. Continuous strawberry production promoted soil-borne pathogens; a problem exacerbated by lack of effective management tools. At Oxnard, CA we evaluated steam injection to raise soil temperature to 70 C or above for at least two minutes. Steam generated on-site was injected via 25 cm long spikes to planting holes in the white plastic-covered raised beds. Five days later, bare-root strawberry plants were placed in six steamed and six untreated plots and their performance and fruit production assessed. Additionally, we collected soil at 0-25 cm for analyses of resident Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae before and after treatment and evaluated weed densities in planting holes. Steam application reduced F. oxysporum, sp. fragariae survivorship in soil 78% and M. phaseolina 80%. Steaming provided 100% weed control of species germinated from soil seed bank, but had no effect on germination of wind-dispersed weeds deposited to holes during production season. Strawberry mortality due to soil-borne pathogens was 12-18% in steamed plots and 70-75% in untreated soil. Due loss of plants, marketable fruit yields in untreated plots were reduced 95% compared to steam treatment.