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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Pierce, Florida » U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory » Subtropical Plant Pathology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157446
Title: FUMIGANT ALTERNATIVES TO METHYL BROMIDE FOR MANAGING NEMATODES AND WEEDS IN SNAPDRAGON

Author
item MCSORLEY, ROBERT - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item WANG, KOON-HUI - UNIV. OF FLORIDA
item Church, Gregory

Submitted to: Florida State Horticulture Society and Citrus Industry
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/1/2004
Citation: McSorley, R., Wang, K.H., Church, G. 2004. Fumigant alternatives to methyl bromide for managing nematodes and weeds in snapdragon. Proceedings of Florida State Horticulture Society. 117:334-337.

Interpretive Summary: Effect of several soil fumigants on plant-parasitic nematodes, weeds and snapdragon (antirrhinum majus L.) production were evaluated in a commercial site in southeast Florida in 2002-03. Treatments consisted of methyl bromide (98% + chloropicrin (2%), metam sodium, metam sodium + chloropicrin, and a nontreated control. All fumigant treatments reduced (P<0.05)weed populations compared to the nontreated control. Stubby-root nematode (Paratrichodorus spp.) numbers were reduced initially by the soil fumigants, but recovered after 5 months. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) levels were low, variable, and not affected (P>0.10) by treatment. Heights of plants in nontreated plots were stunted compared to plants in fumigated plots, and more plants were lost (8.7%) from nontreated plots than from fumigated plots (2.1%). The number of cut flowers harvested from nontreated plots was 7.0% lower than the harvest from plots treated with methyl bromide + chloropicrin. In most instances, the performance of the alternative fumigants, metam + chloropicrin or metam alone, was similar to that of methyl bromide + chloropicrin.

Technical Abstract: Effect of several soil fumigants on plant-parasitic nematodes, weeds, and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) production were evaluated in a commercial site in southeast Florida in 2002-03. Treatments consisted of methyl bromide (98%) + chloropicrin (2%), metam sodium, metam sodium + chloropicrin, and a nontreated control. All fumigant treatments reduced (P<0.05) weed populations compared to the nontreated control. Stubby-knot nematode (Paratrichodorus spp.) numbers were reduced initially by the soil fumigants, but recovered after 5 months. Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) levels were low, variable, and not affected (P>0.10) by treatment. Heights of plants in nontreated plots were stunted compared to plants in fumigated plots, and more plants were lost (8.7%) from nontreated plots than from fumigated plots (2.1%). The number of cut flowers harvested from nontreated plots was 7.0% lower than the harvest from plots treated with methyl bromide + chloropicrin. In most instances, the performance of the alternative fumigants, metam + chloropicrin or metam alone, was similar to that of methyl bromide + chloropicrin.