Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research
Project Number: 2038-22000-019-067-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Feb 1, 2025
End Date: Jan 31, 2026
Objective:
The objectives of this research are to improve sustainable production of strawberry through pre-plant application of steam as an alternative to fumigation. Specific objectives are to test effect of steam in organic and conventional strawberry field trials on soilborne plant pathogen populations and soil microbiomes.
Approach:
Field trials will be conducted in collaboration with growers in the Watsonville/Salinas and Oxnard production regions. Steam will be applied prior to planting strawberry and compared to non-steamed soil or to fumigated soil (conventional farms only). Soilborne pathogen populations will be quantified using established molecular diagnostic assays. Soil microbiomes will be characterized using next generation sequencing and bioinformatics.
