Effects of Sodium Chloride on Commercial Asparagus and of Alternative Forms of Chloride Salt on Fusarium Crown and Root Rot

Abstract

Experiments with applications of NaCl (560 and 1,120 kg/ha) and lime (6,719 kg/ha) were conducted in asparagus fields in commercial production (one healthy and one exhibiting symptoms of early decline), and an experiment with NaCl (1,120 kg/ha) was conducted in a badly declined research field at Michigan State University from 1998 to 2000 to determine whether these treatments control Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus. Growth chamber and greenhouse studies were conducted to test the ability of alternative forms (CaCl2, NH4Cl, and MnCl2) of chloride salt to reduce disease caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. asparagi and F. proliferatum. NaCl applications increased yield and fern health in the research plot, but not in commercial fields. Soil tests in these fields indicated that NaCl did not decrease levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium, and did not affect pH. In growth chamber studies with asparagus seedlings in Hoagland's agar test tubes, and in greenhouse studies with asparagus seedlings in soil, none of the alternative forms of chloride salt tested were more effective than NaCl in controlling Fusarium crown and root rot.

Influence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Sodium Chloride on Fusarium Root Rot and Antioxidative Abilities in Asparagus Plants

“…Matsubara et al (2003) reported that mycorrhizal asparagus ('MW500W') plants showed lower incidence and severity of Fusarium root rot than control. In addition, NaCl-treated asparagus plants had lower severity of Fusarium root rot symptoms than non-NaCl plants (Elmer, 2004;Reid et al, 2001). Most of our results in 'Welcome' agreed with those findings, and additionally, synergetic effects on the alleviation of Fusarium root rot symptoms using AMF and NaCl were confirmed.…”

“…Most of our results in 'Welcome' agreed with those findings, and additionally, synergetic effects on the alleviation of Fusarium root rot symptoms using AMF and NaCl were confirmed. In this study, NaCl treatment was carried out according to Reid et al (2001), and NaCl 50 showed better results than NaCl 100. However, it is necessary to investigate sustainable method of NaCl treatment including the chemical properties of soil to induce growth enhancement and disease suppression under field conditions.…”

“…Treatment with sodium chloride (NaCl) was carried out according to the method of Reid et al (2001). From 8 weeks after AMF inoculation, NaCl (50, 100 mM) was added (10 mL/plant, NaCl+) to bed soil once a week until Foa inoculation (16 weeks after AMF inoculation).…”

“…Asparagus decline is a serious and increasing threat in asparagus producing regions throughout the world (Hamel et al, 2005;Knaflewski et al, 2008;Reid, et al, 2001;Wong and Jeffries, 2006). Asparagus decline is supposed to be caused by the contribution of both biotic (disease) (Knaflewski et al, 2008;Wong and Jeffries, 2006) and abiotic (allelopathy etc.)…”

“…Previously, we reported disease reduction of Fusarium root rot in mycorrhizal asparagus ('MW500W') plants (Matsubara et al, 2003). On the other hand, chemical control of Fusarium disease was also tried by treatment of sodium chloride (Elmer, 1992;Reid et al, 2001), however, many points remain unclear about the mechanisms of disease reduction in sodium chloride (NaCl) and AMF-treated asparagus plants. Generally, promotion of active oxygen synthesis in plants occurs under environmental stresses, such as plant disease, salinity, high temperature, and drought, and the antioxidative abilities are related with the resolution (Li et al, 2004;Lozano et al, 1996;Moghaddam et al, 2006;Yao et al, 2010).…”