Plant diseases, especially grey mould (Botrytis cinerea), may cause severe losses in organic strawberry production. In a two-year period, 2001-2002, the effects of different biological sprays on grey mould, the fruit yield and fruit quality of organically grown strawberry 'Jonsok' were studied in field trials at MTT Agrifood Research Finland in Ruukki and Mikkeli. In Experiment 1 the biological sprays were seaweed, garlic and compost extracts, silicon and Trichoderma spp. on both trial sites. In Experiment 2, compost extract, Trichoderma spp. and Gliocladium catenulatum sprays were studied in Ruukki. The treatment time was chosen to control grey mould. The effect of different biological sprays on the incidence of grey mould and total and marketable yield was insignificant compared to the untreated control. In both years and in all trials the incidence of grey mould was low and rot occurred mainly in the latter part of the harvesting period, which may partly explain the small differences between treatments. Anyhow, despite of feasible biological control cultural control methods will be important to manage the fungus in organic strawberry production.

Significance and Impact of the Study: Fusarium basal rot causes serious problems in onion production. To minimize post-harvest losses, a simple protocol based on FTA TM technology and a dual PCR test with Fusarium oxysporum species-specific and pathogenicity-specific primers was developed. By testing pooled onion samples using this method, latent infections with F. oxysporum can be screened from a representative sample of the harvest. This screening method could be a useful tool to manage the postharvest losses caused by latent infections with F. oxysporum and, with modification of the PCR protocol, with other Fusarium species pathogenic to onion. AbstractFusarium basal rot is a worldwide disease problem in onions, and causes substantial losses in onion production, both during the growing season and in the storage. To minimize the post-harvest losses, a protocol for screening of latent infections with pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strains from harvested onions was developed. This protocol is based on a dual PCR test with primers specific for the fungal species and new SIX3 primers specific for the onionpathogenic F. oxysporum strains. A pooled sample containing pieces from 50 harvested symptomless onions was prepared for the dual PCR using microwave disruption of the filamentous Fusarium fungi and Whatman FTA TM filter paper matrix technology, or as a reference protocol, by extracting DNA with a commercial kit. The two sample preparation protocols gave consistent results with the tested onion samples. Detection limit of the dual PCR protocol was 100 pg of F. oxysporum DNA, in a mixture with onion DNA, when the FTA card was applied. The new protocol reported here is simple and sensitive enough for routine testing, enabling the detection of latent infections in harvest lots even at the infection levels under 10%.

Carabid beetles were sampled by pitfall traps in May-September 2002 and2003 in an experimental organic strawberry field in seven different mulching row treatments and in fescue-growing row spaces to determine the effect of mulches on carabid activity-density and species composition. There were no differences between treatments or row spaces in total numbers of all carabid species in either season. Of the 67 identified species and 4374 individuals, the most trapped ones were Clivina fossor (11.7% of total catch), Dyschirius globosus (10.2%), Patrobus atrorufus (9.3%), Pterostichus niger (8.8%), Bembidion properans (7.4%), Pterostichus melanarius (6.0%), Bembidion lampros (5.7%), Pterostichus crenatus (5.7%), Amara communis (4.1%), Trechus secalis (3.9%), Pterostichus strenuus (3.9%), Loricera pilicornis (3.1%), Harpalus rufipes (2.8%) and Carabus nemoralis (2.6%). Large carabid species P. niger and P. melanarius were trapped more in all mulched rows than in row spaces, and C. nemoralis was trapped more in the mixture of pine woodchip/buckwheat husk mulch than in row spaces, barley straw and birch woodchip mulch. The small but abundant species P. atrorufus was trapped more in buckwheat husk mulch than in row spaces and B. properans in row spaces than in buckwheat husk mulch. H. rufipes, being also a pest in strawberry, was trapped more in cut grass mulch than in row spaces. The Shannon H¢ diversity index was significantly higher in the mixture of pine woodchip/buckwheat husk mulch than in black plastic, buckwheat husk mulch or in row spaces, and in birch woodchip and cut grass mulches than in row spaces. The results of trapping studies show the species preference to the specific mulches, and reflect positive or negative effect of mulches on carabid diversity with consequences to plant protection.

Meat and bone meal (MBM) is a by-product of the meat industry and is an important pathway for recycling of N and P. MBM contains about 8% N, 5% P, 1% K and 10% Ca. Field trials compared the effects of MBM and mineral  fertilizer on yield and quality of sugar beet (2008-2009) and carrot (2010-2011) in Finland. MBM fertilisation of sugar beet grown on clay loam and sandy clay soil gave 11.4% (2008) and 19.6% (2009) lower yields than mineral fertilizers. The lower root yield in 2008 was compensated by higher extractable sugar content and lower amino-N, K and Na in root but no such compensation in root quality was detected for 2009. Mixing MBM with mineral NPK fertilizers had similar effects as MBM-alone. MBM (80 kg N ha-1 2010 and 60 kg N ha-1 2011) together with K fertilizer (Patentkali®, 180 kg K ha-1) were applied for carrot to a fine sandy till soil in 2010 and sandy loam in 2011. MBM alone gave 14% lower total and marketable root yield than mineral fertilization. The lower yield was compensated by improved quality, lower NO3- content in the carrot and good storability. Adding extra fertilizer during growth or separating fertilization applications had no effect on root yield or quality. MBM performed in these cases mainly as an organic N fertilizer. The N supply from MBM is not sufficient for achieving same yields as with mineral fertilizers. The relative N efficiency of total N of MBM was 83% that of mineral fertilizers. MBM should be targeted on soils with low P status.We conclude that MBM is a reasonably competitive alternative to mineral fertilizers, and as a recycled fertilizer it is a good option for organic production.

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