Evaluation of Steam and Soil Solarization for Meloidogyne arenaria Control in Florida Floriculture Crops

Abstract

Steam and soil solarization were investigated for control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria in 2 yr of field trials on a commercial flower farm in Florida. The objective was to determine if preplant steam treatments in combination with solarization, or solarization alone effectively controlled nematodes compared to methyl bromide (MeBr). Trials were conducted in a field with naturally occurring populations of M. arenaria. Treatments were solarization alone, steam treatment after solarization using standard 7.6-cm-diameter perforated plastic drain tile (steam 1), steam treatment following solarization using custom-drilled plastic drain tile with 1.6-mm holes spaced every 3.8 cm (steam 2), and MeBr applied at 392 kg/ha 80:20 MeBr:chloropicrin. Drain tiles were buried approximately 35 cm deep with four tiles per 1.8 by 30 m plot. Steam application followed a 4-wk solarization period concluding in mid-October. All steam was generated using a Sioux propane boiler system. Plots were steamed for sufficient time to reach the target temperature of 708C for 20 min. Solarization plastic was retained on the plots during steaming and plots were covered with a single layer of carpet padding to provide additional insulation. The floriculture crops larkspur (Delphinium elatum and Delphinium 3 belladonna), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were produced according to standard commercial practices. One month after treatment in both years of the study, soil populations of M. arenaria were lower in both steam treatments and in MeBr compared to solarization alone. At the end of the season in both years, galling on larkspur, snapdragon, and sunflowers was lower in both steam treatments than in solarization. Both steam treatments also provided control of M. arenaria in soil at the end of the season comparable to, or exceeding that provided by MeBr. Both steam treatments also reduced M. arenaria in snapdragon roots comparable to, or exceeding control with MeBr. Meloidogyne arenaria in soil increased in solarization alone. Solarization alone also had higher gall ratings on larkspur, snapdragon, and sunflower than all other treatments. Steam provided excellent control of M. arenaria in this study.

Optimizing Safe Approaches to Manage Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

“…Solarization is more effective against PPNs in contained raised beds for cultivation in warm regions. Kokalis-Burelle et al [ 88 ] found that the number of RKN galls on roots of sunflowers, snapdragon, and larkspur were less in steam-treated soil than in solarization alone. Steam treatment was as effective as methyl bromide in controlling M .…”

“…arenaria . They concluded that soil steaming followed by solarization is so effective that it can be a safe alternative to chemical nematicides [ 88 ].…”

Recent Advances in the Development of Environmentally Benign Treatments to Control Root-Knot Nematodes

“…Soil solarization has been used as a pest management technique for decades and was studied against RKN as well ( Nico et al., 2003 ; Melero-Vara et al., 2012 ). Since 2015, soil solarization and its combination with soil steaming were investigated to develop an affordable, yet efficient approach for the management of RKN in floriculture crops including larkspur, snapdragon, and sunflowers ( Kokalis-Burelle et al., 2016 ). The nematicide methyl bromide was used for comparison.…”

“…and/or their secondary metabolites, essential oils, plant extracts, individual and mixed acids such as organic and amino acids, natural bioactive substances, green manure and industrial wastes are some of the environmentally benign treatments that have been studied for their efficacy against RKN. Other strategies such as ozonated water ( Veronico et al., 2017 ), silicon ( Roldi et al., 2017 ) and steaming and solarization ( Kokalis-Burelle et al., 2016 ) have also been tested. In this review, we discuss the published advances on these treatments since 2015 (as of April 2020) as an all-in-one resource for RKN research.…”

Evaluation of Integrated Control Methods of Purple Nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) In Transplanted Onion

“…Tuber viability elimination or prevent tuber production are the ways to successful management of C. rotundus (Webster et al 2017). Temperature treatments (e.g., solarization, steam and electromagnetic radiation) have been proposed as alternatives to methyl bromide for pest management (Kokalis-Burelle et al 2016). The tubers of C. rotundus died when they exposed to 50 °C for 96 h, whereas exposure for 48 h did not affect tuber viability.…”