ARS | Publication request: HOST SUITABILITY OF A WHEAT-SORGHUM DOUBLECROP ROTATION TO MANAGE MESOCRICONEMA XENOPLAX IN PEACH PRODUCTION

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 2, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Peach-tree-short-life (PTSL) is a major problem for peach growers in the southeastern United States. Management of the ring nematode with chemical nematicides has prolonged peach tree survival on PTSL sites in the past. Loss of nematicides due to critical examination by regulatory agencies has left fewer nematode management options for peach growers. Therefore, alternative approaches to chemical control need to be found. The effect of 1, 2, and 3-year wheat-sorghum and wheat-fallow preplant doublecrop rotations for control of the ring nematode was tested under conditions in the southeastern United States. Wheat-sorghum rotation was effective in lowering the population density of the nematode when compared with a continuous peach cropping system. These data provide insight into the potential use of wheat-sorghum doublecrop rotation as a preplant alternative to chemical control in the Southeast. Potential benefits of this research are safer peach production methods and less environmental contamination.

Technical Abstract: The effect of 1, 2, and 3-year wheat-sorghum and wheat-fallow preplant doublecrop rotations for the management of the ring nematode, Mesocriconema xenoplax, was studied from 1990-1993 in a field experiment in central Georgia. The field site had a previous history of peach-tree-short-life and was heavily infested with M. xenoplax. Results indicate that all wheat-sorghum and wheat-fallow rotations suppressed (P < 0.05) the population densities of M. xenoplax compared with 3 years of continuous peach. One year of wheat-fallow did not suppress the M. xenoplax population densities as low as did one year of wheat-sorghum. No differences in suppression of M. xenoplax population density were detected among the 1, 2, and 3 years of wheat-sorghum rotation. A wheat-sorghum rotation has potential as a preplant strategy to manage M. xenoplax in peach orchards in the southeastern United States.