PROGRESS IN THE GLOBAL PHASE OUT OF METHYL BROMIDE AND THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF SOIL DISINFESTATION STRATEGIES

In past work, dichloropropene + 17% Pic (1,3-D + Pic) at 327 L·ha–1 plus pebulate provided good control of nematode, soil fungi, and nutsedge in mulched tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and is considered the best alternative for methyl bromide (MBr) + chloropicrin (Pic), which is scheduled for phase-out in the United States by Jan. 2001. Metam-sodium did not provide acceptable pest control. In the present study, metam-Na (295 L·ha–1 combined with Pic (168 kg·ha–1) + 4.5 kg·ha–1 pebulate, and 1,3-D + 35% Pic at 168 and 225 L·ha–1 + pebulate were compared to MBr-Pic (98-2% at 345 kg·ha–1 and 67-33% at 505 kg·ha–1). Fumigants were injected into the bed except metam-Na and pebulate were surface-applied and incorporated and drip tubing and mulch were applied. Marketable yields with MBr-Pic, 225 L·ha–1 1,3-D + Pic, and metam-Na + Pic were higher than with the check. Yields with metam-Na alone or with additional water before transplanting were similar to the check. Nutsedge was controlled with MBr-Pic and all treatments with pebulate. Nematode root-gall ratings were high on tomato grown without fumigants (8.9 rating on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 = no galling), low with MBr-Pic (0.33), and intermediate with all other treatments (2.2 to 5.5) except with 168 L·ha–1 1-3-D + Pic (8.3). This study indicates that metam-Na + Pic + pebulate also is a possible alternative to MBr-Pic for tomato.

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CRITICAL CHALLENGES FOR THE PHASE-OUT OF METHYL BROMIDE IN THE AUSTRALIAN STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2014.1044.49 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 367-373 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S.W. Mattner ◽

M. Milinkovic ◽

P.R. Merriman ◽

I.J. Porter

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Strawberry Industry ◽

Phase Out

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Strawberries at the Crossroads: Management of Soilborne Diseases in California Without Methyl Bromide

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-11-19-0406-ia ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (5) ◽

pp. 956-968 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Gerald J. Holmes ◽

Seyed Mojtaba Mansouripour ◽

Shashika S. Hewavitharana

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Fruit Production ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Strawberry Fruit ◽

Breeding Programs ◽

Soilborne Diseases ◽

Strawberry Industry ◽

Phase Out ◽

Strawberry Breeding ◽

The Impact

Strawberry production has historically been affected by soilborne diseases such as Verticillium wilt. This disease was a major limiting factor in strawberry production in California in the 1950s and was the main reason that preplant soil fumigation with methyl bromide (MB) was developed in the late 1950s. MB fumigation was so successful that over 90% of the commercial strawberry fruit production in California utilized this technique. However, MB was subsequently linked to ozone depletion, and its use was phased out in 2005. The California strawberry industry was awarded exemption to the full phase-out until 2016, when all MB use in strawberry fruit production was prohibited. MB use continues in strawberry nurseries under an exemption to prevent spread of nematodes and diseases on planting stock. This review examines the impact of the MB phase-out on the California strawberry industry and evaluates the outlook for the industry in the absence of one of the most effective tools for managing soilborne diseases. New soilborne diseases have emerged, and historically important soilborne diseases have reemerged. Registration of new fumigants has been difficult and replacement of MB with a new and effective alternative is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Thus, crop losses due to soilborne diseases are likely to increase. Host plant resistance to soilborne diseases has become a top priority for strawberry breeding programs, and cultivars are increasingly selected for their resistance to soilborne diseases. The intelligent integration of a variety of management tactics is necessary to sustain strawberry production in California.

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Fate of14C-EPTC in a Soil Exhibiting Accelerated Degradation of Carbamothioate Herbicides and Its Control

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500072180 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 434-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Abraham Tal ◽

Baruch Rubin ◽

Jaacov Katan ◽

Nadav Aharonson

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Soil Microorganisms ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Soil Sterilization ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Herbicide Degradation ◽

Chemical Treatments ◽

Accelerated Degradation ◽

History Of

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the fate of14C-EPTC in a soil that had a history of vernolate application and exhibited accelerated degradation of carbamothioate herbicides compared to nonhistory soil. A very rapid mineralization of the herbicide to14CO2was evident in history soil, compared to nonhistory soil. The two soils did not differ in the amounts of the EPTC lost through volatilization or in the nonextractable radioactive fractions. Except for small quantities of EPTC-sulfoxide and sulfone, no other metabolites were detected. Degradation of14C-EPTC, as determined by evolution of14CO2in history soil, was drastically inhibited following soil sterilization by means of autoclaving or gamma irradiation. Soil disinfestation by solarization, methyl bromide, or metham had a pronounced inhibitory effect during the first 6 days, but was less effective than sterilization. Treatment of a history soil with the fungicide 2-methoxyethylmercury chloride and dietholate strongly inhibited EPTC degradation, while thiram and fentin acetate had only short lasting effects. Cycloheximide, an antifungal antibiotic, had little effect on the degradation of EPTC while chloramphenicol, an antibacterial antibiotic, inhibited the herbicide degradation. These results indicate that accelerated degradation of EPTC is linked to the activity of soil microorganisms, e.g. bacteria, and can be controlled by sterilization and chemical treatments.

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Critical Yellow Nutsedge-free Period for Polyethylene-mulched Bell Pepper

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.39.5.1045 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 1045-1049 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Timothy N. Motis ◽

Salvadore J. Locascio ◽

James P. Gilreath

Keyword(s):

Methyl Bromide ◽

Critical Period ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Removal Experiment ◽

Cyperus Esculentus ◽

Soil Fumigant ◽

Yellow Nutsedge ◽

Important Concern ◽

Phase Out ◽

Pepper Plants

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) interference with bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) has become an important concern because of the phase-out of methyl bromide as a soil fumigant. The critical period for yellow nutsedge control in pepper was determined in two adjacent experiments (removal and plant-back) conducted twice in separate fields each Spring and Fall 2000 in Gainesville, Fla. In the removal experiment, nutsedge was planted with pepper in all but the full-season (13 weeks) weed-free controls and removed at 1, 3, 5, and 7 weeks after pepper transplanting (WAPT). Full-season weedy control plots in the removal experiment were obtained by never removing nutsedge planted with pepper (0 WAPT). In the plant-back experiment, all but the full-season weed-free controls received nutsedge with nutsedge planted at 0 (full-season weedy control), 1, 3, 5, and 7 WAPT. Sprouted nutsedge tubers were planted at a density of 45 tubers/m2. Results indicated that a nutsedge-free period from 3 to 5 WAPT in spring and 1 to 7 WAPT would prevent >10% yield reductions of large and marketable peppers. Full-season nutsedge interference reduced pepper yields by >70%. When planted with pepper, nutsedge shoots grew taller than pepper plants with nutsedge heights at 5 WAPT up to two times greater in fall than spring. Results indicated that yellow nutsedge control practices should be initiated earlier and continue longer in fall than spring due to faster early-season nutsedge growth in fall than spring.

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Fumigation and Solarization Practice in Plasticulture Systems

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.6.3.189 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 189-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

James J. Stapleton

Keyword(s):

Driving Force ◽

Crop Production ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Rapid Change ◽

Vegetable Crop ◽

Soil Disinfestation ◽

Pests And Diseases ◽

The Past ◽

Biological Methods ◽

Phase Out

Soil disinfestation strategies for intensive vegetable crop production, which have relied heavily on chemical fumigants for the past 40 years, are now undergoing rapid change. The principal driving force of change has been governmental regulatory action to phase out chemicals with properties deemed to be hazardous to the environment and/or public health. Softer methods of soil disinfestation, which rely more on physical, cultural, biological, or integrated modes of action, likely will predominate in future vegetable-cropping systems. In conducive (i.e., warm) climates, solarization can be adopted economically in plasticulture systems. Solarization can be combined with other chemical, physical, and biological methods for enhanced management of soil and root pests and diseases.

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