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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402005
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Alternative carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestation in California strawberry

Author
item DAUGOVISH, OLEG - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item MURAMOTO, JOJI - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item ZAVATTA, MARGHERITA - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item VALDEZ-BERRIZ, MARIPAULA - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
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., Muramoto, J., Zavatta, M., Valdez-Berriz, M., Henry, P.M. 2023. Alternative carbon sources for anaerobic soil disinfestation in California strawberry. International Symposium on Soil and Substrate Disinfestation, June 6-8, 2023, Almeria, Spain.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) has been adopted in over 1,000 ha in California strawberry production. Rice bran, the predominant carbon source for ASD, has become increasingly expensive. In 2021-2023 field studies we evaluated 20-30% lower-priced wheat middlings (Midds) and dried distiller’s grain (DDG) at 6 and 7 t/acre as alternative carbon sources to rice bran. Permeable bags with inoculum of Macrophomina phaseolina, a key soil borne pathogen of strawberry, and tubers of Cyperus esculentus, a primary weed, were placed in soil in all plots at ASD initiation and retrieved two weeks later for analyses. Two weeks after that, ‘Victor’ or ‘Fronteras’ bare-root strawberry were transplanted in all plots. Both DDG and Midds plots reached > 80,000 hours of cumulative anaerobiosis and in one season reduced viable microsclerotia of M. phaseolina 75 to 85% and tuber germination of C. esculentus29-76% compared to untreated soil. Midds and DDG provided greater sufficiency of plant-available nitrogen and phosphorus compared to untreated soil with synthetic pre-plant fertilizer and improved fruit yields 40 and 30%, respectively. ASD with these carbon sources can suppress soil pathogens and weeds and help sustain organic strawberry production in California.