Long-term effect of soil solarization for the control of Rosellinia necatrix in apple

S. Freeman*, A. Sztejnberg, E. Shabi, J. Katan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of pre- and post-planting soil solarization on white root rot of apple caused by Rosellinia necatrix were examined in two naturally infested orchards. The pathogen was eradicated in solarized soil to a depth of 30 cm. Partial or complete destruction of the pathogen was obtained in solarized-shaded (partially shaded by the tree canopy) plots. No reinfestation of solarized and solarized-shaded soil was observed 2 years after treatment. No death of replanted apple trees occurred in the solarized plots up to 2 years after solarization, whereas 60% of trees died in untreated plots. No disease developed during the third year after solarization in an existing apple orchard, but a low rate of disease recurred in the fourth year. In contrast, mortality in diseased trees in the absence of solarization reached 100%, 4 years after treatment. Two previously solarized soils, out of seven tested, caused reduced growth of the pathogen, indicating induction of soil suppressiveness by solarization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)312-316
Number of pages5
JournalCrop Protection
Volume9
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1990

Keywords

  • Apple
  • Dematophora necatrix
  • Rosellinia necatrix
  • solar heating
  • solarization
  • white root rot

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