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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393139
Research Project: Management of Pathogens for Strawberry and Vegetable Production Systems

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Site-specific soil pest management in strawberry & vegetable cropping systems

Author
item Martin, Frank
item FENNIMORE, STEVE - University Of California
item Matson, Michael
item RACANO, DARIO - University Of California
item MELTON, FORREST - California State University
item HANG, MICHAEL - California State University
item VOUGIOUKAS, STAVROS - University Of California
item ARIKAPUDI, R - University Of California
item DORN, NATHAN - Non ARS Employee
item PUTMAN, ALEX - University Of California
item EARLES, MASON - University Of California
item MAGNEY, TROY - University Of California
item GOODHUE, RACHAEL - University Of California
item Henry, Peter
item GREER, CHRIS - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item DAUGOVISH, OLEG - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item MISCARO, ANDRE - University Of California - Cooperative Extension Service
item STANGHELLINI, MIKE - Trical Inc

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2022
Publication Date: 8/5/2022
Citation: Martin, F.N., Fennimore, S., Matson, M.E., Racano, D., Melton, F., Hang, M., Vougioukas, S., Arikapudi, R., Dorn, N., Putman, A., Earles, M., Magney, T., Goodhue, R., Henry, P.M., Greer, C., Daugovish, O., Miscaro, A., Stanghellini, M. 2022. Site-specific soil pest management in strawberry & vegetable cropping systems. American Phytopathological Society Annual Meeting (Plant Health 2022), August 6-10, 2022, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: With production costs over $89,000 per A/yr for strawberry in the California central coastal region, pathogen management is essential to generating a positive economic return for growers. To more effectively minimize soilborne pathogen impact while using less fumigants, a site-specific management program is under study that tracks pathogen load, disease incidence and crop productivity for both strawberry and the vegetable crops grown in rotation. Risk of disease is assessed by TaqMan soil quantification assays for three of the major lethal pathogens of strawberry (Verticillium dahliae, Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae) coupled with observed disease incidence in the prior season. Management decisions on the fumigant products, rates and application methods are based on this information. Evaluation of treatment efficacies are monitored by several means. Weekly/biweekly drone flights are used to collect calibrated remote sensing data with a 5 cm spatial resolution that supports monitoring of plant vigor and disease incidence on a field wide, and individual plant basis. Two different systems with GPS enabled sensors are used throughout the season to collect precision yield data with cumulative yield maps generated on a weekly basis. This data is then compared with the remote sensing data so correlations between plant vigor and yield can be explored to develop yield prediction models. An economic analysis of alternative production practices provides information to support grower decision making.