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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403851
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Steam treatments for control of Macrophomina crown rot in summer-planted strawberry

Author
item Jaime, Jose
item DAUGOVISH, OLEG - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item RACHUY, JOHN - University Of California
item IVORS, KELLY - Driscolls
item WARRES, BROOKE - Driscolls
item Henry, Peter
item BROOME, JENNY - Driscolls
item BERGEM, ODDBJØRN - Non ARS Employee
item FENNIMORE, STEVEN - University Of California

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2023
Publication Date: 3/29/2023
Citation: Jaime, J., Daugovish, O., Rachuy, J., Ivors, K., Warres, B., Henry, P.M., Broome, J., Bergem, O., Fennimore, S. 2023. Steam treatments for control of Macrophomina crown rot in summer-planted strawberry. Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens, March 28-30, 2023, Salinas, California.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The practice of planting strawberries in coastal California during the summer months of May, June, and July for a fall harvest has increased dramatically over the past decade, because producers can earn high returns on their crop during these months. However, this practice necessitates planting during a warm time of year, and higher temperatures are favorable for the development of Fusarium wilt and Macrophomina crown rot. Organic producers cannot use chemical fumigants to disinfest pathogens from their soil, and limited land availability reduces the potential to move from infested to non-infested fields. Treating soil with steam is an organic-approved soil disinfestation method. We tested a spot-steam machine that treats just the area of beds where plants will be germinated. This targeted approach reduced the abundance of Fusarium spp. and Macrophomina phaseolina where applied. Most plants in non-treated beds died due to Macrophomina crown rot, whereas most plants in steam-treated areas survived and yielded a significant amount of fruit. Our results demonstrate that steam treating summer-planted fields could be a viable method for continued organic strawberry production during this economically important season.