In an apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchard with a severe replant problem, tree size was increased by the 2nd year and number of fruit by the 3rd year by treating the planting hole soil with formalin or mancozeb plus monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizer. Growth increases were evident each year for 4 years only for the MAP + formalin treatment. In a second orchard, with a less severe replant problem, planting-hole treatment with formalin or dazomet + MAP increased tree size by year 2. Number of fruit in year 2 was increased by formalin and mancozeb + MAP treatments, although this effect persisted in year 3 only for mancozeb + MAP. Leaf P concentrations were increased to high values in the first year by MAP fertilization but declined in subsequent years. Leaf Mn concentration also increased in one orchard, a consequence of fertilizer-induced acidification of planting hole soil and Mn uptake from the fungicide mancozeb. Chemical names used: tetrahydro-3,5-dimethyl-2 H -l,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione (dazomet); 37% aqueous solution formaldehyde (formalin); Zn, Mn ethylene dithiocarbamate (mancozeb).
Growth, dry root weight of seedlings and root score of apple seedlings cv. McIntosh were reduced when soils were inoculated with Pratylenchus penetrans, Penicillium janthinellum, Constantinella terrestris, Trichoderma sp., and 4 strains of Bacillus subtilis. Trichoderma sp., and B-1 and B-26 strains of B. subtilis alone reduced plant growth but the combination of Trichoderma sp. + B. subtilis (B-l) and Trichoderma sp. + B. subtilis (B-26) increased plant height. Plant height, root weight and root score were significantly reduced when P. penetrans plus B. subtilis or P. penetrans plus fungi plus bacteria were present in the soil. It is suggested that fungi, bacteria, nematodes alone or their combinations such as nematodes plus bacteria or nematodes plus fungi plus bacteria may contribute towards the occurrence of apple replant disease.
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