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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Citrus and Other Subtropical Products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #327741
Title: Evaluation of steam for Meloidogyne Arenaria control in production of in-ground floriculture crops in Florida

Author
item Burelle, Nancy
item BUTLER, DAVID - University Of Tennessee
item HOLZINGER, JOHN - Holzinger Flowers, Inc
item Rosskopf, Erin

Submitted to: Journal of Nematology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Steam and soil solarization were investigated for control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria in two years of field trials on a commercial flower farm in Florida. The objective was to determine if pre-plant steam treatments in combination with solarization, or solarization alone effectively controlled nematodes compared to methyl bromide (MeBr). Trials were conducted in a field with naturally-occurring populations of M. arenaria. Treatments were; solarization alone, steam treatment after solarization using standard 7.6 cm-diameter perforated plastic drain tile (steam 1), steam treatment following solarization using custom-drilled plastic drain tile with 1.6 mm holes spaced every 3.8 cm (steam 2), and MeBr applied at 392 kg/ha 80:20 MeBr:chlorpicrin. Drain tiles were buried approximately 25 cm deep with four tiles per 1.8 m by 30 m plot. Steam application followed the four week solarization period in mid-October. All steam was generated using the Sioux propane boiler system. Plots were steamed for sufficient time to reach the target temperature of 70°C for 20 min. Solarization plastic was retained on the plots during steaming and plots were covered with a single layer of carpet padding to provide additional insulation. The floriculture crops larkspur (Delphinium elatum and Delphinium x belladonna), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and sunflower (Helianthus anuus) were produced according to standard commercial practices. One month after treatment in both years of the study, soil populations of M. arenaria were lower in both steam treatments and in MeBr compared to solarization alone. At the end of the season in both years, galling on Delphinium elatum, snapdragon, and sunflowers was lower in both steam treatments. Both steam treatments also provided control of M. arenaria in soil at the end of the season comparable to, or exceeding that of MeBr. Both steam treatments also reduced M. arenaria in snapdragon roots comparable to, or exceeding control with MeBr. M. arenaria in soil increased in solarization alone following treatment. Solarization alone also had higher gall ratings on Delphinium elatum, snapdragon, and sunflower than all other treatments. Although steam provided excellent control of M. arenaria in this study, plant growth was reduced, indicating a possible deleterious effect of steam on beneficial soil microorganisms. Additional research on identifying microorganisms important to maintaining optimum plant growth and on supplementing or enhancing natural populations of beneficial soil microorganisms to improve plant growth following steam and other soil disinfestation treatments is currently underway.