Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-22000-019-019-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Nov 1, 2020
End Date: Feb 28, 2023
Objective:
Anaerobic soil disinfestation is a method that has the potential to reduce soilborne pathogen populations without the need for soil fumigation. The objective of this cooperative research is to test anaerobic soil disinfestation techniques in a field setting for control of Macrophomina phaseolina. The two best performing treatments from controlled anaerobic soil disinfestation experiments conducted at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo will be tested in a Macrophomina-infested field. The pre- vs. post-treatment Macrophomina phaseolina soil population densities and subsequent disease pressure during strawberry production will be quantified to assess the success of this fumigant alternative soil treatment.
Approach:
Two randomized complete block designed trials at separate Macrophomina-infested sites will be conducted. Both trials will have fumigation, anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment #1, anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment #2, and untreated check as treatments with five replications. Anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments will be conducted from July 2021 to August 2021. Soil will be sampled from each replicate of each treatment prior to treatment, and Macrophomina will be quantified from soil by DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Soil redox potential, temperature, moisture and electrical conductivity, will be monitored during the anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment to ensure that sufficiently anaerobic conditions are achieved. After anaerobic soil disinfestation treatment, soil will again be collected from each plot and Macrophomina quantified by DNA extraction and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays.
