EFFECT OF THIABENDAZOLE (TECTO 20S) AND METALAXYL (RIDOMIL MZ72) ON ASPARAGUS ESTABLISHMENT IN REPLANT SOIL

Asparagus growers often experience difficulty in re-establishing asparagus in soil previously cropped with asparagus.
The replant problem is caused by a number of factors including pathogenic species of Fusarium in the soil.

Two trials were planted at Lincoln (one in 1988 and one in 1989) to determine the optimum rate of an acid formulation of thiabendazole (Tecto 20S) to apply to crown transplants for the control of Fusarium related replant problems.

Ten-month-old crown transplants (cv UC 157) were dipped in solutions of thiabendazole containing 1, 2 or 4 litres of Tecto 20S in 455 litres of water and planted in soil previously cropped with asparagus.
After covering the crowns with soil, half of the plots in 1988 were then sprayed with metalaxyl (Ridomil MZ 72) at 0.5 kg metalaxyl/ha.
In 1989 half of the crowns were dipped in a solutions containing 200 mg /l metalaxyl added to each thiabendazole solution.

Treatment of crowns with thiabendazole resulted in improved plant establishment, more ferns/plant and a higher fern dry weight when compared to untreated plants six months after planting.

VIII International Asparagus Symposium

Peter G. Falloon, H.A. Fraser-Kevern

Asparagus officinalis, Phytophthora, Fusarium

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.415.41