Articles
CONTRASTING EFFECTS ON FUSARIUM WILT OF COLUMN STOCK FOLLOWING USE OF BARK AS A SOIL AMENDMENT
Article number
1044_16
Pages
139 – 143
Language
English
Abstract
Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. mathiolae) is a major soilborne disease of the scented cut flower column stock (Matthiola incana) grown intensively under protection in the UK. Most growers currently steam the soil prior to planting as a preventative measure.
In summer 2012 a glasshouse trial was conducted on a commercial nursery with a history of the disease in an attempt to identify alternative, less expensive options, for disease management.
None of three fungicide and four biofungicide products reduced the disease.
A pine and spruce bark growing medium amendment, incorporated 3 days pre-planting at 30 L/m2, significantly reduced Fusarium wilt and increased the proportion of marketable flowers.
Several growers used the same bark treatment in 2013. On one nursery where previously annual steam treatment had kept Fusarium wilt to a very low level, the use of bark alone, instead of steaming, greatly increased Fusarium wilt compared with reference areas in the glasshouses where no bark was incorporated.
On two other nurseries, the same bark growing medium amendment appeared to increase incidence of Fusarium wilt while on several others there was neither beneficial nor detrimental effects.
Possible explanations for these different effects on Fusarium wilt from use of the same bark product are discussed.
In summer 2012 a glasshouse trial was conducted on a commercial nursery with a history of the disease in an attempt to identify alternative, less expensive options, for disease management.
None of three fungicide and four biofungicide products reduced the disease.
A pine and spruce bark growing medium amendment, incorporated 3 days pre-planting at 30 L/m2, significantly reduced Fusarium wilt and increased the proportion of marketable flowers.
Several growers used the same bark treatment in 2013. On one nursery where previously annual steam treatment had kept Fusarium wilt to a very low level, the use of bark alone, instead of steaming, greatly increased Fusarium wilt compared with reference areas in the glasshouses where no bark was incorporated.
On two other nurseries, the same bark growing medium amendment appeared to increase incidence of Fusarium wilt while on several others there was neither beneficial nor detrimental effects.
Possible explanations for these different effects on Fusarium wilt from use of the same bark product are discussed.
Publication
Authors
T.M. O’Neill, L. Mason
Keywords
Matthiola incana, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. mathiolae, conifer bark, cut flowers, greenhouse
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