Strawberry Growth and Productivity in Fumigated Compared to Compost-amended Production Systems

Abstract

<jats:p>Strawberry (<jats:italic>Fragaria</jats:italic> ×<jats:italic>ananassa</jats:italic> Duchnesne) growth and productivity were compared in fumigated and nonfumigated production systems. Strawberry transplants grown in potting mix amended with <jats:italic>Trichoderma hamatum</jats:italic> (Bonord.) Bainier, strain T382, <jats:italic>Trichoderma harzianum</jats:italic> Rifai, strain T22, or untreated, were planted in field plots treated with compost, compost amended with <jats:italic>T. hamatum</jats:italic> strain T382, Telone-C35, or not treated. Plants were sampled throughout the growing season, and dry weights of roots, crowns, leaves, flowers and fruit, leaf area, and total and marketable yield were determined. <jats:italic>Trichoderma</jats:italic> amendments to the potting mix improved plant dry weight and leaf area of strawberry transplants in the first year and suppressed root rot incidence in the second year but did not affect plant growth or disease incidence once the plants were set in the field. Field plants in fumigated plots had greater root, leaf, and crown dry weights, leaf area, and yield compared with plants in the other soil treatments. We conclude that <jats:italic>Trichoderma</jats:italic> amendments (1) alone had little benefit to plug plant growth and (2) in combination with compost, had no benefit to strawberry plant growth in the field. The task remains to develop a reliable and sustainable strawberry production system that does not rely on chemical fumigants.</jats:p>

Evaluation of Host Resistance and the Utilization of Organic Amendments to Manage Macrophomina Crown Rot of Strawberry in California

“…Current and potential restrictions in the use of soil fumigants has led to numerous studies exploring new non-chemical approaches to managing soilborne disease in strawberries (Subbarao et al 2007;Muramoto et al 2014;Fang et al 2014;Mazzola et al 2017;Shennan et al 2017). The incorporation of organic amendments into the soil profile with compost, plant residues, or carbon-based substrates have been linked to some disease control of soilborne pathogens (Leandro et al 2007, Subbarao et al 2007. The soil incorporation of Brassicaceae plant residues, more specifically seed meals derived from mustard plants (MSM) Brassica napus Brassica juncea [L.] or Sinapis alba [L.], have been widely explored for their effects on soilborne pathogens and plant growth responses (Smolinska et al 1997;Fennimore et al 2014;Hewavitharana et al 2014;Mazzola et al 2015;Neubauer et al 2015;Mazzola et al 2017).…”