Survival of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae on crop residue in soil

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lactucae, the cause of Fusarium wilt of lettuce, can survive on crop residue in soil. Persistence of the pathogen over time will be influenced by the rate at which residue decomposes. We evaluated the effect of drying and fragmenting crop residue on the rate of decomposition and survival of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae. In a controlled experiment that represented optimal drying conditions, fragmenting and oven-drying infested lettuce taproots at 30°C significantly reduced the frequency of recovery of the pathogen, compared to untreated tissue. However, in a field experiment, drying infested crop residue on the soil surface prior to incorporation did not significantly reduce survival of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae after one year. Regardless of treatment, there was not a significant decrease in soil inoculum density between one and 12 months after residue was incorporated. In a greenhouse experiment, fragmenting crop residue prior to incorporation in pathogen-free soil resulted in significantly higher inoculum densities of F. oxysporum f. sp. lactucae after one year. The increase in inoculum levels was associated with a faster rate of residue decomposition, which may be beneficial in the long run but not where lettuce will be replanted within the next year.

Flumioxazin soil persistence under plastic mulch and effects of pretransplant applications on strawberry

Weeds are managed in Florida strawberry production systems with plastic mulches, fumigants, and herbicides. There are limited post-transplant options to control weeds that emerge in the planting holes in the plastic-covered beds, but flumioxazin at 107 g ai ha−1 can be applied pretransplant under the plastic mulch to control broadleaf and grass weeds. Three research trials were conducted in Balm and Dover, FL, in 2017 and 2018 to evaluate tolerance of the strawberry cultivar ‘Radiance’ to flumioxazin rates ranging from 54 to 6,854 g ha−1 and to estimate herbicide persistence under the plastic mulch. Shoot damage was observed at 428 to 857 g ha−1 (4× and 8× the label rate, respectively), but a significant increase in the number of dead plants was not observed until the treatment rate was 857 g ha−1 at one site and 3,427 g ha−1 at a second site (8× and 32× the label rate, respectively). Berry yields were unaffected by rates lower than 857 g ha−1. Flumioxazin persisted throughout the growing season (approximately 150 d) with no reduction in soil concentration. We conclude that applied at the label rate, flumioxazin is a safe pretransplant weed management option for season-long weed control in strawberry with no yield reduction at rates below 8× the label rate. Caution is recommended for growers who plant a second crop on the same bed.

Vegetable response to sulfentrazone soil residues at four planting intervals

Sulfentrazone was recently granted food-use tolerance approval for use on Brassica head and stem, as well as Brassica leafy vegetables. To date, one sulfentrazone registrant has listed those crops on its use label. In coastal California multiple crops per year including Brassica vegetables are grown in rapid succession; therefore, to avoid injury to rotational crops, herbicides used in those fields must be carefully selected. Given concerns about the relatively long soil persistence of sulfentrazone, studies were conducted to measure the response of direct-seeded carrot, lettuce, onion, spinach, and seeded tomato planted 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo after sulfentrazone application at 0, 112, 224, and 336 g ai ha−1. Eight plant-back studies were conducted during 2010–11 and 2012–13. Data collected were injury estimates, and stand and dry weights. Results indicate that it is safe to plant carrot and tomato 3 mo after sulfentrazone application at rates up to 336 g ai ha−1. Lettuce and green onion should not be planted within 9 mo of sulfentrazone application. Spinach should not be planted within 12 mo of sulfentrazone application.

Soil Persistence of Diuron Applied to Cotton Cultivation in Red and Black Soils

Persistence of diuron applied to cotton as preemergence spray at varied rates of application (0.5, 0.75, 1.0 kg ha-1) was studied in field experiments conducted simultaneously in red and black soils at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Rajendranagar during kharif, 2018. In both red and black soils, persistence of diuron was observed beyond 120 days after application and the concentration of diuron in the top soil (0-15 cm) was higher in black soils compared to red soils from 0 Days to 120 Days. Higher dose of diuron showed greater soil persistence in both red and black soil. Diuron dissipation in soil followed first order kinetics in both the soils. Field half life of diuron was higher in black soil was 53.3-77.0 days at different rates of application than in red soil (53.3-69.3 days).

Leaching and Persistence of Sulfentrazone when Mixed with Adjuvants

ABSTRACT: The objective of this work was to study the influence of adjuvants on leaching and persistence of sulfentrazone in a Red-Yellow Ultisol. The soil was stored in PVC columns of 10 cm diameter and 50 cm length. The treatments were composed of sulfentrazone mixed with six adjuvants (Adesil®, Break-Thru®, Assist®, Hoefix®, Fera® and Nortox® Vegetable Oil), a treatment with sulfentrazone without any adjuvant and a treatment without the herbicide. In the treatments with sulfentrazone, the herbicide was applied at a rate of 1.0 kg ha-1 at the top of the columns, and 12 hours after application, the columns were subjected to simulated rainfall (60 mm). To confirm leaching of sulfentrazone, soil samples were collected every 5 cm up to 50 cm in each column and transferred to 300 cm3 pots to conduct a bioassay using the species Sorghum bicolor. At 21 days after emergence (DAE) of sorghum, visual assessment of intoxication was performed and shoot dry matter percentage was determined. To determine the influence of adjuvants on persistence of sulfentrazone in the soil, new sorghum seeds were planted as soon as the sorghum plants from the first planting were cut; also, phytotoxicity scores were assigned and shoot dry matter was determined at 21 DAE. This procedure was repeated up to 173 days after herbicide application, when the plants showed no more visual symptoms of intoxication. The adjuvant Break-Thru® was effective at reducing leaching of sulfentrazone. The presence of adjuvants applied together with sulfentrazone did not influence the persistence of the herbicide in the study soil. Persistence of sulfentrazone lasted for 143 days.