Articles
Combining steaming and composting to disinfect onion waste contaminated with Sclerotinia cepivorum causal agent of onion white rot
Article number
1451_20
Pages
141 – 148
Language
English
Abstract
Stromatinia cepivorum (syn. Sclerotinia cepivorum) is an economically important pathogen of Allium species worldwide.
The sclerotia can survive in the soil for up to 20 years.
In Norway, onion white rot is a quarantine disease for onion set producers, making the disposal of onion waste from packing facilities a major concern due to the potential risk of spreading the pathogen with compost.
Moreover, the disposal of onion waste is costly in Norway.
The effective management of postharvest waste contaminated with plant pathogens present a significant challenge in agricultural sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
This study explores the utilization of stationary steaming technology in combination with composting as a novel approach to disinfect and recycle onion waste.
A stationary soil steaming machine was used to determine the lethal dose (temperature and duration) of S. cepivorum. In addition, the onion waste was composted to evaluate the combined effect of steaming and composting on the survival and infectivity of S. cepivorum. The temperature in the composting process reached 60°C, which is sufficient to damage the sclerotia and expose it to microbial infestation.
There was germination of S. cepivorum from the control groups, but no germination from the steam, compost and steam followed by compost treatments.
The integration of steaming and composting technologies shows promise in disinfecting onion waste contaminated by S. cepivorum, so the biowaste can be reused, recycled, and returned into agricultural soil without the risk of pathogen inoculum spread.
In conclusion, our study has shown that combining steaming and composting is effective in disinfecting biological waste contaminated with S. cepivorum.
The sclerotia can survive in the soil for up to 20 years.
In Norway, onion white rot is a quarantine disease for onion set producers, making the disposal of onion waste from packing facilities a major concern due to the potential risk of spreading the pathogen with compost.
Moreover, the disposal of onion waste is costly in Norway.
The effective management of postharvest waste contaminated with plant pathogens present a significant challenge in agricultural sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
This study explores the utilization of stationary steaming technology in combination with composting as a novel approach to disinfect and recycle onion waste.
A stationary soil steaming machine was used to determine the lethal dose (temperature and duration) of S. cepivorum. In addition, the onion waste was composted to evaluate the combined effect of steaming and composting on the survival and infectivity of S. cepivorum. The temperature in the composting process reached 60°C, which is sufficient to damage the sclerotia and expose it to microbial infestation.
There was germination of S. cepivorum from the control groups, but no germination from the steam, compost and steam followed by compost treatments.
The integration of steaming and composting technologies shows promise in disinfecting onion waste contaminated by S. cepivorum, so the biowaste can be reused, recycled, and returned into agricultural soil without the risk of pathogen inoculum spread.
In conclusion, our study has shown that combining steaming and composting is effective in disinfecting biological waste contaminated with S. cepivorum.
Authors
B. Asalf, T.A. Justad, P.A. Rivier, E. Joner
Keywords
onion, waste, white rot, Sclerotinia cepivorum, sclerotia, steam, compost, biowaste, circular economy
Online Articles (37)