Soil Solarization and Gliocladium virens Reduce the Incidence of Southern Blight Sclerotium rolfsii in Bell Pepper in the Field

The timing of solarization with clear plastic mulch in relation to the planting of pepper and the timing of soil amendment with a bran prill formulation of Gliocladium virens were evaluated for the control of southern blight and the survival of sclerotia of the pathogen Sclerotium rolfsii in bell pepper in the field. Solarization during crop growth increased the incidence of southern blight, and G. virens was not effective under the mulch. In addition, pepper yields were low when the soil was solarized during crop growth. In contrast, the solarization of fallow soil in raised beds for 6 weeks prior to crop growth significantly reduced disease incidence in the pepper crop. In addition, in 2 years, G. virens alone reduced southern blight in non-solarized soils and reduced the survival of sclerotia of S. rolfsii to depths of 30 cm at all locations in soil in both years. These data demonstrate two effective biological control strategies for the management of southern blight in the southeastern US.     

Soil Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Dynamics as Affected by Solarization Alone or Combined with Organic Amendment

Soil solarization, alone or combined with organic amendment, is an increasingly attractive approach for managing soil-borne plant pathogens in agricultural soils. Even though it consists in a relatively mild heating treatment, the increased soil temperature may strongly affect soil microbial processes and nutrients dynamics. This study aimed to investigate the impact of solarization, either with or without addition of farmyard manure, in soil dynamics of various C, N and P pools. Changes in total C, N and P contents and in some functionally-related labile pools (soil microbial biomass C and N, K₂SO₄-extractable C and N, basal respiration, KCl-exchangeable ammonium and nitrate, and water-soluble P) were followed across a 72-day field soil solarization experiment carried out during a summer period on a clay loam soil in Southern Italy. Soil physico-chemical properties (temperature, moisture content and pH) were also monitored. The average soil temperature at 8-cm depth in solarized soils approached 55 °C as compared to 35 °C found in nonsolarized soil. Two-way ANOVA (solarization×organic amendment) showed that both factors significantly affected most of the above variables, being the highest influence exerted by the organic amendment. With no manure addition, solarization did not significantly affect soil total C, N and P pools. Whereas soil pH, microbial biomass and, at a greater extent, K₂SO₄-extractable N and KCl-exchangeable ammonium were greatly affected. An increased release of water-soluble P was also found in solarized soils. Yet, solarization altered the quality of soluble organic residues released in soil as it lowered the C-to-N ratio of both soil microbial biomass and K₂SO₄-extractable organic substrates. Additionally, in solarized soils the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) significantly increased while the microbial biomass C-to-total organic C ratio (microbial quotient) decreased over the whole time course. We argued that soil solarization promoted the mineralization of readily decomposable pools of the native soil organic matter (e.g. the microbial biomass) thus rendering larger, at least over a short-term, the available fraction of some soil mineral nutrients, namely N and P forms. However, over a longer prospective solarization may lead to an over-exploitation of labile organic resources in agricultural soils. Manure addition greatly increased the levels of both total and labile C, N and P pools. Thus, addition of organic amendments could represent an important strategy to protect agricultural lands from excessive soil resources exploitation and to maintain soil fertility while enhancing pest control.     

Field evaluation of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria amended transplant mixes and soil solarization for tomato and pepper production in Florida

Field trials were performed in Florida to evaluate tomato and pepper transplants amended with formulations of several plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in a production system that included soil solarization. Transplants grown in five different formulations of PGPR were planted into plots treated by soil solarization, MeBr fumigation, or untreated soil. Treatments were assessed for incidence of several naturally occurring tomato and pepper pathogens including root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) and species of Pythium, Phytophthora, and Fusarium. Highly significant increases in tomato and pepper transplant growth occurred in response to most formulations of PGPR tested. Transplant vigor and survival in the field were improved by PGPR treatments in both tomato and pepper. Diseases of tomato caused by root-knot nematodes, Fusarium, Phytophthora, and Pythium were not affected by PGPR treatments. PGPR formulation LS261 reduced numbers of root-knot nematode galls on pepper while pepper root condition was improved with formulations LS213, LS256 and LS261. Individual PGPR strains affected the number of Pythium colonies isolated from pepper roots, but did not affect isolation of Pythium from tomato roots. Greater numbers of colonies of Pythium were isolated from pepper roots in the MeBr treatment and fewest in the solarization treatment. Numbers of colony forming units of Fusarium were significantly higher in the untreated soil than in MeBr fumigated or solarized soil with no effect of PGPR on isolation of Fusarium from either crop. Incidence of wilt symptoms on tomato was significantly lower in MeBr treated plots and highest in the untreated plots. Yield of extra large tomato fruit and total yield increased with PGPR formulation LS256. Yield of pepper was increased with formulations LS255 and LS256. Solarization combined with LS256 on pepper produced yields comparable to MeBr.     

Enhanced activity of introduced biocontrol agents in solarized soils and its implications on the integrated control of tomato damping-off caused by Pythium spp

Soil solarization in combination with introduction of biocontrol agents (BCA) was evaluated as a potential disease management strategy for tomato damping-off caused by Pythium spp. A rifampicin resistant Pseudomonas fluorescens strain (PfT-8) and a carbendazim resistant Trichoderma harzianum strain (ThM-1) were introduced into soil following solarization. Tomato seeds were planted into treated field plots. The influence of soil solarization and application of biocontrol agents on damping-off incidence, plant biomass, rhizosphere population of introduced antagonists, and native Pythium spp. was assessed by two consecutive field trials. Damping-off incidence was significantly reduced in solarized plots compared to control. Soil inoculation of biocontrol agents into solarized plots resulted in the highest suppression of damping-off incidence (PfT-8 up to 92%; ThM-1 up to 83%), and increase in plant biomass (PfT-8 up to 66%; ThM-1 up to 48%) when compared to un-solarized control plots. Rhizosphere population of introduced biocontrol agents gradually increased (PfT-8 up to 102% and ThM-1 up to 84%) in solarized soils when compared to unsolarized control. The population of Pythium spp in rhizosphere soil was reduced up to 55% in solarized plots; whereas, application of BCA to solarized soils reduced the rhizosphere population of Pythium spp. by 86 and 82% in P. fluorescens and T. harzianum applied plots respectively.     

The effect of soil temperature,moisture and nitrogen on Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze seed germination,viability and emergence on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) roots under field conditions

Experiments were conducted in a Striga-sick field to study the effect of soil temperature, moisture and nitrogen on Striga parasitism on sorghum. Striga seeds contained in nylon bags and buried at 2 cm in the soil, were exposed to different temperature and moisture treatments. Clear polythene, hay mulch and bare soil treatments were used to vary soil temperature. These treatments gave mean maximum temperatures of 60°, 48° and 37°C, respectively at 2-cm soil depth. Irrigation levels of 0, 30 and 60 mm were applied to change soil moisture. Striga seed germination, viability and emergence were studied. After 34 days of preconditioning, the exhumed Striga seeds from polythene-covered plots (solarized plots) did not germinate or retain viability when these seeds were exposed to sorghum root exudate. However, seeds similarly buried under hay mulch or bare soil, with mean maximum soil temperatures of 48° and 37°C, respectively, had similar germination and viability percentages. Of these 75% germinated and 85% of them were viable, regardless of the temperature treatment. Although seeds stored at high temperature and humidity (solarization) were killed, more Striga plants emerged under the polythene treatment compared to hay mulch and bare soil treatments. The observed Striga plants in the polythene mulch treatment were, therefore, assumed to have come from deeper layers where solarization was not effective. Irrigation treatments did not have significant effects on Striga seed germination and viability, but a slightly higher number of plants emerged at 60-mm irrigation level than at 30-mm and 0-mm. Striga emergence, on the other hand, was directly related to the rate of N application. Nitrogen rates of 0, 25, 50 and 100 kg ha^–1 resulted in the emergence of 11, 34, 38 and 40 Striga plants per plot, respectively. Despite the high infestation at high N levels, sorghum plants did not show a loss of vigor. Nitrogen application, therefore, does not reduce Striga incidence, but seems to neutralize the harmful effects of Striga without reducing the extent of parasitism.     

Involvement of endogenous gibberellins in the regulation of increased tomato shoot growth in solarized soil

Environmental factors often affect plant growth bymodifying the levels of endogenous gibberellins (GAs).In this study, the involvement of GAs in theregulation of enhanced shoot growth in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants grown in soiltreated by solarization (a soil disinfestation method)was investigated. Seedlings at the cotyledonary stagewere transplanted into either solarized or untreatedcontrol soil. Plants in both soils grew free of anydisease symptoms. As soon as four days after planting,seedlings in solarized soil had a higher dry weightcompared to the control. Throughout most of theexperimental period of 18 days, leaf weight ratio washigher in the solarized vs. the control soil. Treatingshoot tips of control plants with 0.1 mg^.L^-1GA₃ resulted in enhanced leaf and stem growth,thus reaching values similar to those of plants grownin solarized soil. The opposite effect was obtained bytreating plants grown in solarized soil with1 mg^.L^-1 uniconazole, a GA biosynthesisinhibitor. Quantitative GC-MS analyses revealed thatGA₁ content in one and two-weeks old transplantsgrown in various solarized soils was up to 1.8 fold,and that GA₃ content in two-weeks old plants wasup to five fold the values in the control. Theseincreases were linearly correlated with the increasein leaf dry weight. It was concluded that theincreased quantities of GA₁, and eventuallyGA₃, play a role in the increased growth oftomato shoots in solarized soil as early as seven daysafter transplanting.deceased     

Population dynamics of Macrophomina phaseolina in relation to disease management: A review

Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. causes seedling blight, charcoal rot, leaf blight, stem and pod rot on over 500 plant species in different parts of the world. The pathogen survives as sclerotia formed in host tissues which are released into the soil as tissue decay. Low soil moisture is considered the more important predisposing factor for M. phaseolina-induced diseases than high temperature. The intensity of the disease on a crop is related to the population of viable sclerotia in the soil and abiotic factors. The influence of various management strategies in reducing the number of viable propagules of the pathogen in the soil has been studied in order to minimize the impact of the disease. Any management approach that reduces inoculum density in the soil may reduce disease incidence on the host. However, to reduce inoculum density, quantitative determination of viable propagules from soil is necessary in order to understand the effect of management strategies on the population dynamics of this pathogen. Considerable work has been done on organic amendments, changing crop sequences with tolerant crops, fumigants, herbicides and tillage in managing M. phaseolina populations in the soil and the resulting disease. Solarization has been used in controlling M. phaseolina in different countries where this pathogen is causing disease on economically valuable crops. However, this method of soil disinfestation was effective in eliminating viable populations at the top soil layer although by combining other approaches its effectiveness was improved at lower soil depth. Use of biological control agents with or without organic amendments or after solarization has emerged to be a practical management approach in the control of M. phaseolina. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review those research findings where the influence of various management approaches on survival of M. phaseolina mainly sclerotia have been investigated.     

A direct observation technique for evaluating sclerotium germination by Macrophomina phaseolina and effects of biocontrol materials on survival of sclerotia in soil

Germination of sclerotia of Macrophomina phaseolina was quantified by direct microscopic observation following application of experimental treatments in vitro and incubation of sclerotia in soil. To assay germination, pieces of agar containing sclerotia were macerated in dilute, liquid cornmeal agar on glass slides; thinly spread; and incubated in a saturated atmosphere for 18–22 h. Germinated sclerotia then were identified by morphological features of germ hyphae. Frequencies of germination were similar in three dilute agar media. Germination was not affected by air-drying sclerotia for 2 weeks, but it was significantly reduced after 4 weeks and greatly reduced or eliminated after 6 or 8 weeks. Survival of sclerotia for 14 days in soil was greatest at 50, 75, and 100% moisture-holding capacity, less at 0 and 25%, and least at 125% (flooded soil). Incorporation of ground poultry litter into soil at 5% by weight reduced survival of sclerotia after 13 days, and incorporation of litter at 10% nearly eliminated it. These results indicate that the direct-observation technique may be used to evaluate animal wastes and other agricultural byproducts for biocontrol activity against sclerotia of M. phaseolina in soil.     

Effect of Solarization and Nematicidal Treatment of Nursery Beds and Summer Ploughing of Main Field on Root-Knot Nematodes and Performance of Rice Crop*

The reduction in nematode population levels achieved by soil solarization and nematicides in nursery beds resulted in significantly improved health of the rice seedlings which when transplanted in the main field gave better control in treated and untreated in the main field. Application of nematicides phorate or carbofuran after soil solarization gave greater reduction in nematode infection and increased weight. However, soil solarization had the major influence. Further application of the nematicides in the solarized main field gave 53.2% higher yield over untreated control which was only 3.8% higher than that from untreated main field. Soil solarization could be a practical, feasible and environmentally safer alternative to nematicides.     

Effect of soil solarization on corn stalk rot

Seven weeks solarization of irrigated soil raised its temperature by 11.5°C over non-solarized soil at 10 cm depth and effectively controlled weeds (98.5%), stalk borer (8.9%) and stalk rot disease (69.1%) in corn. Solarization also reduced symptoms of Fusarium moniliforme and Macrophomina phaseolina significantly by 64.2% and 78.4%, respectively, and completely controlled M. phaseolina in corn cultivars, viz. Pool-10, Shaheen and Gauher. Whereas symptoms of F. moniliforme were observed in these cultivars, Fusarium graminearum was not observed except in two cultivars, Shaheen and Akbar. Growth of crop planted in solarized plots was better and it yielded almost one to three times more grains in cultivars under test. Soil analysis immediately following solarization revealed that essential elements were readily available in simpler forms, which may have increased pest resistance and reduced stalk breakage.     

Effects of Chicken-excrement Amendments on Meloidogyne arenaria

The effects of chicken litter on Meloidogyne arenaria in tomato plants cv. Rutgers were determined in the greenhouse. Tomato seedlings were transplanted into a sandy soil amended with five rates of chicken litter and inoculated with 2,000 M. arenaria eggs. After 10 days, total numbers of nematodes in the roots decreased with increasing rates of chicken litter. After 46 days, egg numbers also decreased with increasing litter rates. In another experiment, soil was amended with two litter types, N-P-K fertilizer, and the two primary constituents of chicken litter (manure and pine-shaving bedding). After 10 days, numbers of nematodes in roots were smaller in chicken-excrement treatments as compared to nonexcrement treatments. At 46 days, there were fewer nematode eggs in chicken-excrement treatments compared to nonexcrement treatments. Egg numbers also were smaller for fertilizer and pine-shaving amendments as compared to nonamended controls. Chicken litter and manure amendments suppressed plant growth by 10 days after inoculation but enhanced root weights at 46 days after inoculation. Amendment of soil with chicken litter suppressed M. arenaria and may provide practical control of root-knot nematodes as part of an integrated management system.     

Solarization in a forest nursery: effect on ectomycorrhizal soil infectivity and soil receptiveness to inoculation with Laccaria bicolor

 Field experiments were carried out in a forest nursery during the summer of 1994 to examine the effect of soil solarization on ectomycorrhizal soil infectivity (ESI) and soil receptiveness to inoculation with Laccaria bicolor. Soil samples from solarized, steamed, fumigated and untreated plots were periodically collected and assayed for ESI. Untreated soil exhibited high ESI. Solarization was as effective as steaming or fumigation in reducing ESI in the uppermost layer. Solarization with a double layer of polyethylene film and fumigation were the only treatments which reduced ESI deeper in the soil. During July, the temperature of covered beds reached 50  °C at a soil depth of 5 cm. Ectomycorrhizal fungi were among the soil-borne fungi most sensitive to solar heating. Soil solarization provides an effective disinfection method for controlled mycorrhization in forest nurseries. Accepted: 10 April 1997     

Root nodulation and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in legume crops as affected by soil solarization

Soil solarization is a preplanting technique used in hot climates to control weeds and soilborne pathogens consisting of mulching the soil surface with polyethylene sheets. The increase in temperature associated with solarized soil could affect nitrogen availability for grain legume crops through effects on nitrogen fixing soil microorganisms or other mechanisms. To examine the effects of solarization on natural root nodulation and nitrogen accumulation and partitioning in the plant, two solarization field experiments were carried out over two planting seasons, involving genotypes of both faba bean (Vicia faba) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum). The effect of sowing date was also studied in the first season. Solarization increased the maximum soil temperature by 9–10 °C in the first, and by 13–15 °C in the second season. At 5 cm below the solarized soil surface, a temperature of over 46 °C prevailed for 146 and 280 h over the two respective seasons, while this temperature was not attained in unmulched soil. Solarization delayed the initiation of nodulation and consistently reduced the nodule number per host plant, but generated an approximate doubling of mean nodule weight. The total nodule mass per plant was not affected by the treatment in the first season, but was reduced in the second season. Solarization significantly increased the concentrations of NO₃^– -N, Na⁺, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺ and K⁺ in the soil extract, and the total nitrogen accumulated in the whole plant. This latter increase was due to both higher plant growth and a greater plant nitrogen concentration. The increased nitrogen level in the plant was not uniform with respect to plant component, varying from 57% in the roots to 198% in the pods and seeds. The plants grown in non-solarized soil accumulated about 31% of their total N content in the shoots of the parasitic weed Orobanche crenata. Solarization dramatically improved grain yield by 300–900% in both seasons and in all genotypes studied, due to increased N availability in soil, N accumulation in plants, improved plant growth, and complete control of the parasite weed O. crenata. On the basis of these beneficial effects, soil solarization, which avoids site contamination and is suited to organic farming, should be a good opportunity in Mediterranean areas where the level and stability of grain yields are low, and the infestation of O. crenata is high.     

The role of mineral nutrients in the increased growth response of tomato plants in solarized soil

Soil solarization is a non-chemical disinfestation technique that frequently promotes plant growth in the absence of known major pathogens, a phenomenon termed increased growth response (IGR). The effect of solarization on plant nutrients and their role in the IGR was studied with tomato plants grown in solarized or non-solarized (control) sandy soil, under controlled conditions. Solarization considerably increased the soil concentrations of water extractable N, K, Ca, Mg and Na at most sites, whereas Cl and DTPA extractable Mn, Zn, Fe and Cu were decreased by the treatment. Plant growth and specific leaf area were enhanced in solarized as well as in N-supplemented control soil. In tomato plants grown in solarized soil, concentrations of most nutrients in the xylem sap, including N, were increased compared to the control, whereas Cl and SO4 levels decreased. The most significant increase in leaf nutrient concentration caused by soil solarization was recorded for N. Furthermore, leaf N concentration was highly and positively correlated with shoot growth. The concentration of Cu increased in leaves from the solarization vs. the control treatment, whereas that of SO4 and Cl decreased, the latter presumably below the critical toxicity level. The correlation between shoot growth and leaf concentration was positive for Cu and inverse for Cl and SO4. In conclusion, we found that soil solarization significantly affects nutrient composition in tomato plants, and provided strong evidence that N, and eventually also Cl, play a major role in IGR.     

Soil water, nutrient availability and sapling survival under organic and polyethylene mulch in a seasonally dry tropical forest

We examine the effect of mulches on the soil volumetric water content (SVWC), pH, carbon (C), total and mineral (NH₄ and NO₃) nitrogen (N), total and bicarbonate phosphorus (P), and on the survival and relative growth rate of three species, Ipomea wolcottiana Rose, Lonchocarpus eriocarinalis Micheli and Caesalpinia eriostachys Benth, in a degraded seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) area. Our study year was unusually dry, with only half of the mean annual rainfall. Sixteen plots (5 × 6 m) for each of our four treatments, mulches with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) straw, forest litter (SDTF litter), polyethylene and bare soil (control), were used. In each plot, 20 tree saplings were planted of each species. The SVWC was higher in plots mulched with polyethylene than in bare soil plots. The soil pH did not change with mulching, and there were no differences between treatments in the concentrations of soil organic C, total N, NO₃ and total P. However, soil concentrations of NH₄ were highest in plots with alfalfa straw and of bicarbonate P in plots with polyethylene. Sapling survival was higher in polyethylene mulch plots than in other mulching treatments, in the order I.␣wolcottiana > C. eriostachys > L. eriocarinalis. Sapling survival under organic mulches, alfalfa straw and forest litter were similar, and lowest in bare soil. The relative growth rate followed the order L. eriocarinalis < C. eriostachys < I. wolcotiana, and the growth rate of all species was greatest under polyethylene mulch. We conclude that a combination of polyethylene mulch with species of high growth rate is best for restoring seasonally dry tropical areas.     

Isolation and evaluation of the biocontrol potential of Talaromyces spp. against rice sheath blight guided by soil microbiome

Rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani is the major disease of rice that seriously threatens food security worldwide. Efficient and eco-friendly biological approaches are urgently needed since no resistant cultivars are available. In this study, fallow and paddy soils were initially subjected to microbiome analyses, and the results showed that Talaromyces spp. were significantly more abundant in the paddy soil, while Trichoderma spp. were more abundant in the fallow soil, suggesting that Talaromyces spp. could live and survive better in the paddy soil. Five Talaromyces isolates, namely, TF-04, TF-03, TF-02, TF-01 and TA-02, were isolated from the paddy soil using sclerotia of R. solani as baits and were further evaluated for their activity against rice sheath blight. These isolates efficiently parasitized the hyphae and rotted the sclerotia even at higher water contents in the sterilized sand and the soil. Isolate TF-04 significantly promoted rice growth, reduced the severity of rice sheath blight and increased the rice yield under outdoor conditions. Defence-related genes were upregulated and enzyme activities were enhanced in rice treated with isolate TF-04. Our research supplies a microbiome-guided approach to screen biological control agents and provides Talaromyces isolates to biologically control rice sheath blight.     

Soil temperature in a sugar-cane crop as a function of the management system

Air and soil temperatures are, by far, the most important state variables of agroecosystems. In the case of sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) they affect plant development, maturation and a series of biological and physical-chemical soil processes. This paper presents a comparative study of three management practices, applied to the first ratoon of a sugar-cane crop established on a Rhodic Kandiudox (Terra Roxa Estruturada) of Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. The management practices are: (i) interrow with bare soil; (ii) trash mulching, maintaining harvest residues (straw+tips) on the soil; (iii) soil with residues from burning the prior crop. Soil temperature was measured with digital stick thermometers driven into the soil down to the depths of 0.03, 0.06 and 0.09 m, meter by meter, close to the crop row, along an 84-point transect that covered all treatments and borders. The measurements were performed from November 1998 (right after the first harvest of the planted cane) to June 1999. The effects of the treatments on soil temperature were, evidently, more prominent in the period November/February when the plants had a smaller height, not closing interrows. Data that were collected on typical days, chosen along the development cycle of the crop, always from 11:00 to 12:00 a.m., show significant differences, mainly between mulched and non mulched treatments, reaching values as high as 7 °C for the average of the three depths. A comparative analysis is made between treatments and their effects are discussed in relation to the sugar-cane crop.     

Effect of Simulated Soil Solarization and Organic Amendments on Fusarium Wilt of Rocket and Basil Under Controlled Conditions

Pot trials were carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effectiveness against Fusarium wilt of rocket (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans) and basil (F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici) of soil amendments based on a patented formulation of Brassica carinata defatted seed meal and compost, combined or not with a simulation of soil solarization. The soil solarization treatment was carried out in a growth chamber by heating the soil for 7 and 14 days at optimal (55–52°C for 6 h, 50–48°C for 8 h and 47–45°C for 10 h/day) and sub‐optimal (50–48°C for 6 h, 45–43°C for 8 h and 40–38°C for 10 h/day) temperatures similar to those observed in summer in solarized soil in greenhouses in Northern Italy. Two subsequent cycles of plant cultivation were carried out in the same soil. Even at sub‐optimal temperature regimes, 7 days of thermal treatment provided very valuable results in terms of disease control on both rocket and basil. In general, the thermal treatment was more effective against F. oxysporum f.sp. basilici than against F. oxysporum f.sp. conglutinans. Control of Fusarium wilt of rocket is improved with 14 days of thermal treatment. The combination of organic amendments with a short period of soil solarization (7 or 14 days), although not providing any improvement to the level of disease management, did significantly increase biomass and positively affected yield.     

Short-term effects of soil solarization in suppressing Calonectria microsclerotia

Background and aims

Calonectria species have been reported as devastating pathogens mostly on horticultural and forest crops worldwide. Since these pathogens represent a serious threat for the nursery production, the aim of this study was to investigate on the short-term potential of soil solarization for eradicating Calonectria microsclerotia.

Methods

Twenty Calonectria isolates collected in Italy from different hosts and locations were identified by using DNA sequencing of β-tubulin. The effect of thermal regimes and innovative solarizing films on the soil survival of Calonectria microsclerotia was evaluated through time at different sampling periods in growth chamber and greenhouse experiments.

Results

Eleven and nine isolates were identified as Calonectria pauciramosa and Calonectria polizzii, respectively. No viable Calonectria inoculum was recovered after 12 days from all solarized plots inside ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) greenhouse and at 15-cm depth from solarized plots inside ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) greenhouse. Under EVA cover, solarization killed C. pauciramosa microsclerotia within 9 and 17 d at 15- and 30-cm depths in soil, respectively, whereas no viable inoculum was retrieved within 6 and 12 days from solarized plots inside ETFE greenhouse.

Conclusions

This paper demonstrates that short-term soil solarization is effective for Calonectria microsclerotia suppression in nurseries, and shows that ETFE film as well as other innovative materials could improve this technique.     

Soil solarization reduces arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a consequence of weed suppression

Soil solarization, the process of heating soil by covering fields with clear plastic, is a promising method to reduce populations of soilborne pests and weeds without the use of pesticides. However, the destruction of beneficial organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi also may occur, thereby reducing positive effects of solarization. We compared the effects of solarization and chemical fumigants on the survival of indigenous AM fungi in 1995 and 1996. The infectivity of AM fungi was monitored before and after solarization using a greenhouse bioassay with Sorghum bicolor L. for both years. AM colonization of roots was also monitored in the field 8 months after solarization in 1995. Weed densities were measured 8 months after treatment in 1996. Solarization increased the average daily soil temperature 6-10°C and the maximum soil temperature reached by 10-16°C (5-20 cm depth). Solarization did not reduce the infectivity of AM fungi immediately after the solarization period in either year, as determined by the greenhouse bioassay. Infectivity was greatly reduced in solarized plots 8 months after solarization (over winter) in both years as assessed in the field (1995) or with the greenhouse bioassay (1996). Fumigation with metam sodium at 930 l ha^-1 (350 kg active ingredient ha^-1) reduced the infectivity of AM fungi in both years, and fumigation with methyl bromide at 800 kg ha^-1 eliminated infection by AM fungi. Solarization was as effective as methyl bromide and metam sodium at 930 l ha^-1 in controlling winter annual weeds measured 8 months after treatment. Solarization apparently reduced AM fungi in soil indirectly by reducing weed populations that maintained infective propagules over the winter. Fumigation with metam sodium or methyl bromide directly reduced AM fungi in soil.