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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #424924
Research Project: Uncovering Rootstock Disease Resistance Mechanisms in Deciduous Tree Fruit Crops and Development of Genetics-Informed Breeding Tools for Resistant Germplasm

Location: Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research

Title: Multi-year effects of Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments on apple tree growth and yield at replant orchard sites

Author
item DUPONT, TIANNA - Washington State University
item MAZZOLA, MARK - Stellenbosch University
item HEWAVITHARANA, SHASHIKA - California Polytechnic State University
item BARA, AINA - Washington State University
item Somera, Tracey

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2026
Publication Date: 5/2/2026
Citation: DuPont, T.S., Mazzola, M., Hewavitharana, S.S., Bara, A., Somera, T.S. 2026. Multi-year effects of Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments on apple tree growth and yield at replant orchard sites. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. Article 102975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102975.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.102975

Interpretive Summary: Brassicaceae seed meal soil amendment and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments have shown promise as alternatives to fumigation for the control of apple replant disease. In a previously published study, we evaluated the efficacy of Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation for the control of apple replant disease at a commercial scale across three different orchard locations. Both biorenovation techniques resulted in significant changes to the rhizosphere microbiome and improvements in tree growth relative to fumigated and/or no-treatment controls after the first growing season. To date, studies monitoring tree performance over multiple years in biorenovated orchard soil systems have been lacking. The current study documents the impact of these soil treatments for tree growth and yield up to six years after orchard establishment. Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments consistently resulted in apple growth and yield similar to fumigated treatments, with the greatest benefits (relative to the to non-treated controls) in the replant susceptible rootstocks M.9 and B.10.

Technical Abstract: Brassicaceae seed meal soil amendment and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments have shown promise as alternatives to fumigation for the control of apple replant disease. In a previously published study, we evaluated the efficacy of Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation for the control of apple replant disease at a commercial scale across three different orchard locations. Both biorenovation techniques resulted in significant changes to the rhizosphere microbiome and improvements in tree growth relative to fumigated and/or no-treatment controls after the first growing season. In the current (follow-up) study, we report tree growth and yield data measured two to six years after planting into the same amended soil. Brassicaceae seed meal and anaerobic soil disinfestation treatments resulted in apple yield similar to fumigated treatments, with benefits greatest in susceptible rootstocks relative to non-treated controls.