| Abstract: | 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. |
