Source: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV submitted to
INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF SOILBORNE PESTS IN STRAWBERRY AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS:BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS AND CHEMICAL ALTERNATIVES TO MEBR
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219454
Grant No.
2009-51102-05746
Cumulative Award Amt.
$768,347.00
Proposal No.
2009-03147
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2013
Grant Year
2009
Program Code
[112.C]- Methyl Bromide Transitions Program
Project Director
Louws, F. J.
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
Performing Department
Plant Pathology
Non Technical Summary
Methyl bromide-dependent plasticulture crop production has been an integral part of small-acreage farm operations throughout the Southeastern United States (SEUS). The plasticulture system is a "tool-box" to obtain high productivity in strawberry and vegetable production systems. Methyl bromide (MeBr) has been the primary soil fumigant as a tactic within the plasticulture system to manage a wide spectrum of pests including weeds, nematodes, insects and soilborne plant pathogens. However, it is an ozone depleting substance and therefore is being phased out for most agricultural uses in accordance with the Montreal Protocol. The challenge our clientele faces tend to be very different than the clientele in other major MeBr-dependent production systems. We typically do not work with large farming enterprises that have the capability to allocate personnel time and financial resources to specifically seek out viable alternatives for their enterprises, to buy and/or modify new equipment, or to allocate large areas to trial alternatives (with a perceived high risk). Rather, we work with many growers who tend to have limited acreages that are essential to farm viability and many of them produce multiple crops (strawberries, various vegetables). Thus, our region faces multiple definable problems: there are technical and economic issues associated with alternatives and there are adoption issues and barriers that need to be overcome. In contrast, a leading portion of our clientele is innovative and seeks non-fumigant-based approaches to successfully grow their crops. With a high diversity of farming systems in our region, we have conducted extensive multi-disciplinary and multi-state programs to seek a diversity of viable chemical and biologically-based alternative systems to the MeBr. We have been able to advance the science and practice of weed science, plant pathology, horticultural science, farming systems research and agricultural economics and are delivering this research-based information to successfully enable growers to transition to alternative production practices, with opportunities and challenges to do more. Our mission long-term goal is to foster a strawberry and vegetable industry that is competitive, sustainable, and conducive to Southeastern USA (SEUS) farm viability. Such a vision encompasses short, mid- and long-term outcomes and is dependent on the diverse stakeholder objectives identified. The specific goals can be partitioned into four main sub-goals: GOAL 1) Tactic substitution - to enable growers to transition to economically and technically viable non-ozone depleting fumigants; GOAL 2) Tactic diversification - to develop and/or implement other chemical-based tactics or non-chemical-based tactics extendable in the near term to effectively manage economically constraining soilborne pests and improve crop performance; GOAL 3) Tactic development - To enable growers to adopt to economically and technically viable biologically-based solutions to complement or replace fumigant and chemical inputs; GOAL 4) To effectively extend the research-based information to stakeholders.
Animal Health Component
60%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
60%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2051122106020%
2121499116035%
2132300114035%
6016199301010%
Knowledge Area
212 - Pathogens and Nematodes Affecting Plants; 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management; 205 - Plant Management Systems; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 6199 - Economy, general/other; 1122 - Strawberry; 2300 - Weeds;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1160 - Pathology; 1140 - Weed science; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
We assembled an inter-disciplinary and inter-state response and vision team of key private and public sector stakeholders that seeks to implement chemical and biological-based alternatives to MeBr and seeks to advance the science of plant pathology, weed science, horticultural science and farming system practices. Three strategic goals of research and extension are identified to address critical use nominations for cucurbits, peppers, tomatoes and strawberry fruit in the Southeast USA: 1) Tactic substitution - addressing short term needs of growers who seek non-ozone depleting fumigant alternatives. Components include available and forthcoming fumigants combined with application methods and use of novel mulches and technologies to enhance efficacy and/or mitigate emerging regulatory issues; 2) Tactic Diversification - focuses on medium term alternatives that includes non-fumigant and IPM based tactics and components such as use of novel and registered fungicides, nematicides and herbicides drip delivered for targeted and efficacious management of pests and advancing grafting of fruiting vegetables; 3) Tactic Development - focuses on longer-term goals to explore microbial ecology and farming systems-based approaches. Components include biological/anaerobic soil disinfestation, mustard seed meal applications and biased soil profiles that favor beneficial microbial communities. Finally, we will focus on extending outcomes through multi-tactic mechanisms including participatory on-farm-research, web-based information, extension agent training, field days, presentations at most fruit and vegetable meetings in the SE and along the eastern seaboard, scientific presentations at professional meetings, peer reviewed publications, and writings in extension articles and industry driven newsletters. Combined efforts are expected to result in technically and economical feasible assessments and implementation of alternatives, exploration of viable diversification and development of integrated pest management tactics, and a region-wide advanced understanding of the biology, ecology and management of key soilborne pests.
Project Methods
GOAL 1) Tactic substitution - to enable growers to transition to economically and technically viable non-ozone depleting fumigants. Objective 1-1: Evaluate lower alternative fumigation rates on both VIF and TIF mulches to determine the lowest amount of fumigant that can be used under these mulches and maintain crop yield. Objective 1-2: Evaluate the residual fumigant levels during fumigant plant-back intervals to determine if damaging fumigant levels are still present at planting times under VIF and TIF mulches. We propose to conduct rate x mulch studies to determine the optimum rates needed for management of the soilborne pest complexes and to determine parameters that will enable growers to predict plant-back intervals. GOAL 2) Tactic diversification - to develop and/or implement other chemical-based tactics or non-chemical-based tactics extendable in the near term to effectively manage economically constraining soilborne pests and improve crop performance. Objective 2.1 and 2.2: Determine the efficacy of fungicides, nematicides and herbicides optimally applied to manage site-specific strawberry and tomato pests. We propose to design programs that combine our knowledge and experience about the biology of the pests, pesticide efficacy and use patterns, crop growth cycles and critical pest-free periods to develop non-fumigant approaches to manage targeted soil pests. Objective 2.3. Evaluation of selected herbicides and novel mulches to manage weeds in tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. Objective 2.4. Evaluate critical weed free periods for grafted tomatoes and differential sensitivity of rootstocks to herbicides in field trials. Studies are proposed to determine the effect of in-row weed establishment and removal timings on tomato yield and quality loss and weed biology. GOAL 3): Tactic development - To enable growers to adopt to economically and technically viable biologically-based solutions to complement or replace fumigant and chemical inputs. Objective 3.1 & 3.2. Evaluation of Biologically-based systems for strawberry and tomato production. We propose to explore novel and biologically-based methods to manage soilborne pests. Objective 3.1 and 3.2 are functionally an effort to manage microbial communities for pest/disease suppressive and plant health benefits. Objective 3.3. To explore innovative production systems to produce strawberries in high tunnel systems without fumigants. We propose to determine if strawberries can be successfully produced using artificial substrates compared to fumigated soil-based culture. GOAL 4: To effectively extend the research-based information to stakeholders. Objective 4.1. Economic Analysis. We propose to do economic analysis on the most promising treatments of reduced rates x novel mulches; use of selected non-fumigant pesticides in strawberry and tomatoes, and on selected biological systems evaluated in objectives 3.1, 3.2. and 3.3. Objective 4.2. Extend the research-based information to stakeholders. Multiple methods will be adopted to communicate research-based outcomes consistent with the history of this program.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: This project had several target audiences including growers, private companies, educators, policy makers, and students. The primary grower groups targeted were strawberry and vegetable growers in the southeast USA and other plasticulture growers impacted by critical use nominations (AL, AK, GA, KY, LS, MS, NC, SC, TN and OH). These growers had to transition away from methyl bromide (MeBr) and also faced an uncertain regulatory climate (e.g. growers were unsure about the buffer restrictions they would encounter). This audience was reached through three mechanisms: 1) novel research that addressed their priorities; 2) on-farm-research and demonstrations that enabled the program to identify gaps and to enable leading growers to guide innovation to transition away from MeBr; 3) through multiple extension products, presentations at local and national meetings, and field days. The primary target audience among private companies included those that were seeking to develop new products, methods of application or other novel innovations that would enable growers in the Southeast to transition away from MeBr dependency. These products included emerging and novel plastic mulches, new fumigants; novel formulations of fumigants, and other new chemical or biological based products to suppress soil borne pathogens or weeds. Efforts that interfaced private industry included 1) research projects to evaluate potential advances that would serve the SEUS growers; 2) extension activities and products; 3) one-on-one interfacing in field trials and professional meetings. The educator audience was primarily Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Agents and this program offered train-the-trainer opportunities to transfer knowledge and engage local experts (especially in the on-farm-research/demonstrations). The primary policy maker audience included personnel at EPA/USDA who had to determine the USA’s eligibility for critical use nominations (CUNs) and the International Methyl Bromide Technical Options Committee (MBTOC) that interacted with our group concerning data on the technical and economic viability of MeBr alternatives for the SEUS. These data were transmitted primarily through the CUN process and various publications. The program also provided training for senior scientists, postdoctoral scientists, graduate students and undergraduate students. These trainees experienced dramatic benefits with several going on to tenure-track positions at major land-grant universities or permanent positions in industry. Details are provided elsewhere in the training section of the report. Changes/Problems: Over the 4-yr period of the work, we encountered some major weather effects. A large tomato trial focussed on the utility of mustard meal to suppress Verticillium wilt and weeds was flooded just before harvest in western NC. The trial was repeated a second year, but not again. Second year resutls suggested MM offered modest benefit in this type of tomato production system. The flooding also seemed to kill the Verticillium pathogen in the disease nursery limiting our efficacy data sets secured for our grafting studies in subsequent years. We moved to a grower site in the third year of work. Likewise, a large strawberry experiment was completely damaged by a hail storm in TN, just before harvest resulting in loss of data. Parallel experiments were repeated at other sites but this damage reduced the scope of outcomes. However, all project objectives were addressed. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training Activities: Senior scientists, grad students and undergrad students worked on this project. One leading senior scientist exited to secure plant pathology tenure-track position at a major land-grant university. The program coordinator, partially supported on this grant, provided extensive leadership across the region and became the national manager for fumigant product development and sales in North America for a major private company. Grad students experienced an interplay of research and extension responsibilities. One student (partially funded) secured a tenure-track position in plant pathology at a major land-grant university after completing the Ph.D.; an MS student (partially funded) secured a fulltime position with a major Agri-Sciences company in the RTP and a third student (majorly funded) is completing the Ph.D. on other funds. A fourth Ph.D. student, not supported by these funds but who conducted work to achieve our objectives, also secured a tenure-track position in weed science at a major land-grant University. Multiple undergrad students were employed – some provided leadership and support for lab/field projects while others worked primarily in the field trials. The majority of students experienced major advancements. One placed first place in NC in an undergrad research symposium, went on to a national undergrad research competition and subsequently secured a permanent position with a major Agri-Sciences company in the RTP. Two others went on in related fields in graduate school and a third student is considering grad school while continuing related research on other funds. Professional Development: Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents (field faculty) was the primary target group for professional development programs. Professional development opportunities occurred at several levels: 1) Agents were engaged in local on-farm-research projects. Depending on the agent, they took primary leadership or a participatory role, and co-organized local field days associated with MeBr alternatives. Agents learned about OFR and the MBT program; 2) Multiple train-the-trainer programs were organized to educate agents on risk mitigation measures and the MeBr transitions process, including technical information on alternatives. Examples include: i) Disease management and alternatives to methyl bromide. Vegetable IPM training for Agents. Little Rock, AR. March 7, 2013; ii) Disease Management and use of fumigants – Field training program. Southern Region Small Fruit Center Agent Training. South Carolina. May 25-26, 2011; iii) New Risk Mitigation Measures for Fumigants – Agent Training Program. Iredell Co.; Wilson Co. Forsyth Co. NC 2011; iv) New Risk Mitigation Measures for Fumigants. Southern Region Small Fruit Center Agent Training, Savannah, GA. Jan 6, 2011; v) Methyl Bromide alternatives in strawberry production, Southern Region Small Fruit Center Agent Training. Savannah, GA. Jan 6, 2011 [this training featured a minimum of 5 agents from each of 5 SE states]. 3) CES agents attended most of our grower training and conference programs (N~69 presentations along the Eastern Seaboard); we also interacted with many agents one-on-one as they sought solutions for their growers on a local basis. Through these combined programs many agents in multiple states gained professional development knowledge in MBT, technical and economic data on fumigant alternatives, and information on the biology, ecology and management of soilborne diseases and weeds. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? A core goal was to disseminate results to cummunities of interest: PROJECT GOAL 4: To effectively extend the research-based information to stakeholders. Translating outcomes to our stakeholders has been a priority component of this project, consistent with all methyl bromide transitions (MBT) efforts. As partially discussed previously in the report, this was a multi-tiered process. Surveys identified that one of the greatest barriers to the MBT process was “risk aversion” – perceived and real. Many of the growers in the SEUS, affected by the CUNs that this work targeted, tend to be smaller to medium size acreage farms and/or family farm operations. For example, the typical strawberry production operation manages ~5 acres and up to 70 acres, an important source of income for our diversified stakeholders. Our vegetable growers may farm less than 50 to over 1500 acres; we do serve larger growers also - we have interacted with tomato growers that manage over 6000 acres of tomatoes. The data generated here, and previous work by our groups and others, enabled policy makers to provide CUNs for pre-plant fumigation use for our growers from 2005 to 2012. This was a critical time for our industry and we placed high emphasis on working with growers, the supporting industry, educators (extension and consultants), policy makers and other stakeholders to equip growers in the MBT effort. The program conducted 50 strawberry and 79 vegetable Phase I (research station) experiments complemented with 32 strawberry and 42 vegetable Phase II/III (on-farm-research) projects in over 5 States from 2000-2013. During the life of this project (2009 – 2013) 14 and 36 Phase I and 10 and 17 Phase II/III trials were done in strawberries and vegetables, respectively, and funded by multiple resources. These Phase II/III experiments with the participatory OFR model was an effective mechanism to translate research outcomes to growers and develop innovative solutions to technical and economic barriers e.g. pursue critical research questions associated with fumigant rates, novel plastic mulches or methods of application, fumigant retention in soils etc. These OFR projects engaged local extension experts and were linked to local field days- often featuring a 5-county or more area for up to 25 or more neighboring growers to see plant growth responses to various fumigants and share experiences. This on-farm activity enabled leading growers to evaluate products and relate their successful experiences in transitioning. Typically, each participating grower dedicated 10 to 50% of their acreage to MeBr alternatives. Most of these on-farm trials were arranged as a RCBD with 3-5 replications and in some cases growers also included a non-fumigated control. In many cases they secured the harvest data by rep and by treatment resulting in statistically valid data for their farm (and scientific reports). Our team personnel typically secured weed pressure, disease incidence, phytotoxicity and plant growth data among other indicative data sets. The combination of CUNs, OFR, extensive collaborations among private and public stakeholders, and data provided to EPA and MBTOC (policy makers) allowed all growers in our region to transition to MeBr alternatives after the 2012 cropping cycles. A second mechanism to translate research outcomes was accomplished with the emergence of the Risk Mitigation Measures (RMMs) implemented by EPA during the life of this project. Over 46 interactive workshops were held with over 1200 in attendance. Our program provided leadership on issues associated with good agricultural practices for fumigant use (GAPS), implementation of fumigant management plans and working safely with fumigants. In each session where we provided leadership, we presented available knowledge on tactic substitution, diversification and development. We also organized or participated in multiple local and regional CES Agent training (train-the-trainer) programs and grower conferences and workshops. These extension efforts covered both the Phase I and Phase II implementation of RMMs over the 2 years from 2011 to 2012. Private industry and other partners also provided leadership and to our knowledge, these collaborative and parallel efforts enabled all fruit and vegetable growers to successfully transition to the new RMMs. A third mechanism to extend information was through extension products, field days, presentations at grower meetings, CES agent training and one-on-one interactions. During the life of this project, 14 presentations were made at proceedings, many published; 11 articles were published in industry journals, newsletters or other publications; 10 extension bulletins/publications were written; we led, organized or participated in 8 CES agent training programs (in addition to the RMM programs above); organized or participated in 7 field days (e.g. the Western NC Tomato and vegetable field day draws 250 or more attendees annually); and gave 52 vegetable and 17 strawberry talks at local, regional or national grower meetings. These meetings included many of the prominent conferences along the east coast including the SE Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference (Savannah GA), The NC/SC Fruit and Vegetable Annual Conference (Myrtle Beach, SC); Annual Mountain Tomato/Vegetable Growers Conference; Horticulture Industries Show and Conference (AR & OK); Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention (Hershey, PA); Ohio Produce Growers and Marketers Association Congress (Sandusky, OH), Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Convention (Niagara Falls, ON), and the Annual Southeastern Strawberry Expo (NC or VA). These regional conferences were complemented by local and state presentations as organized by local extension programs. In many cases, the talks were complimented with extension articles published in the meeting proceedings and/or made web accessible. The MBT work was featured in an additional 20 invited talks regionally, national and internationally. Again, these data reflect total program efforts that were supported through multiple NGO, private and public supporters, although the largest portion of support was USDA-NIFA. Although we do not log all on-on-one interactions, 2012, in particular, witnessed a flush of agent and grower calls, emails and site visits as growers considered non-fumigant alternatives with the complete phase out of MeBr. In summary, a multifaceted extension and outreach program equipped most growers and agents with knowledge about the MBT program and was an instrumental component of the successful transition away from CUNs using MeBr, an anxiety-laden but relatively smooth implementation of new RMMs, and in many cases, transition to non-fumigant based IPM and farming system approaches. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Management of soilborne pathogens and weeds is a critical issue for vegetable and strawberry growers, particulalry in NC and the Southeast USA (SEUS) region where the climate favors disease progress and high weed pressure. An interdisciplinary, multi-state, and stakeholder driven participatory research, extension and educational program was assembled to evaluate, adopt, and develop integrated approaches to manage soilborne pests. The crucial short term need was to enable vegetable and strawberry growers to discontinue the use of the soil fumigant, methyl bromide (MeBr) based on critical use nominations (CUNs) in AL, AK, GA, KY, LS, MS, NC, SC, TN and OH. A first critical idenitfied priority was to allow time for growers to transition. Therefore, we co-authored, and provided substantial data, for CUNs for strawberry and vegetable production systems in the SEUS to garner our growers the needed time to adopt non-MeBr alterantives. This was accomplished and the whole region has functionally transitioned away from the use of MeBr as a pre-plant soil fumigant as of 2013. A dramatic shift occurred: in 2011 83% of our strawberry plasticulture growers relied on MeBr as a fumigant; by 2013 this was near 0%. Second, a research and extension program developed and/or adopted chemical, biological- and management-based alternatives to MeBr and advanced the science of plant pathology, weed science, horticultural science, farming system practices and agricultural economics. The results of this research were translated into a region-wide extension effort to Cooperative Extension Agents (field faculty), growers, and other stakeholders. In fact, much of the research and extension engaged stakeholders as key partners through 50 research and 27 on-farm-research trials complimented with over 65 research or extension publications, 10 train-the-trainer programs, and over 85 research or extension talks at local, national and international grower or science conferences (2009-2013). This NIFA effort was complemented with funds from the USDA-ARS area-wide program, support from private industry, and vested grower associations including strawberry, tomato and vegetable grower associations. Alternative fumigants were registered or developed with a partial reliance on our data, new application technologies/products were developed and implemented, novel plastic mulches were explored and widely adopted, IPM methods were developed and implemented, discovery information concerning the biology and management of key pests was generated and translated to stakeholders, and farming systems projects engaged numerous innovative growers. Third, during the life of this project EPA implemented a 2-phase program of Risk Mitigation Measures (RMMs) for soil fumigant pesticides. We worked with partners and developed a Soil Fumigation Workgroup and implemented a region-wide grower and agent training program. Though the process was anxiety laden for many, nearly all growers in our area successfully implemented the new RMMs without major incident. IMPACT SUMMARY: A multi-faceted research and extension program was implemented to provide capacity, confidence and knowledge for nearly all our vegetable and strawberry growers to transition away from MeBr dependency as a pre-plant fumigant. Technical and economic barriers to transition were addressed and although some remain, significant progress, by working with an engaged industry and grower groups, enabled a final and relatively smooth transition overall. This protected growers from losing up to $14 million per year in decreased income in the SEUS. Current scientific data suggests bromine levels in the troposphere, an indicator of the stratosphere levels, has decreased more than originally anticipated, down 13% from their peak (2013 data). Thus, local programs carrying out the land-grant mission with support from USDA programs and linked to a motivated and an innovative industry had direct impact on atmospheric bromine levels and ultimately on the level of risk associated with global ozone depletion. Specific Accomplishments: GOAL 1) Tactic substitution: Multiple Phase I,II&III trials enabled us to evaluate and confidently recommend non-ozone depleting fumigants. The data on all these products were combined into recommendation tables for growers annually in extension products. A Soil Fumigation Workgroup (NC Agromedicine Institute - primary leaders; NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission, NC-Department of Agriculture, NC Division of Public Health, NC Farmworker Health Program; grower associations, NCSU) implemented a region-wide grower and agent training program that included cost-share opportunities for personal protective equipment, medical clearance and respirator fit testing. Over 46 workshops trained over 1200 attendees and distributed over $112K (from trust funds) in cost share monies for growers to safely implement RMMs on nearly 700 farms in NC; we provided support for strawberry and vegetable growers and also provided regional training and resources for agents in adjoining states. See ecu.edu/cs-dhs/agromedicine/Soil-Fumigants-Project.cfm. Data showed fumigant use rates can be reduced substantially when combined with Totally Impermeable Film (TIF) but that growers may be using rates of fumigants too low for optimum yield benefits. Multiple field studies demonstrated that label plant-back intervals do not need to be changed with the higher-retention films. GOAL 2) Tactic diversification: We hypothesized that novel and registered chemistry and technologies could play an important role in future non-fumigant production systems to suppress diseases and weeds. With the exception of novel nematicides that proved efficacious, multiple research trials in NC, GA and VA showed fungicide applications as plant dips (strawberries) and/or applied through drip irrigation systems (strawberries and vegetables) did not offer sufficient control of pathogens, compared to fumigated treatments. MeBr + chloropicrin (MeBR:pic) and Pic-Clor 60 fumigant standards increased yield by 25 to 50% (strawberry) and up to 100% (tomato) over non-fumigated controls; dip and drip programs with no fumigants increased yield 8% maximally. Use of fungicide + herbicide programs are not a recommended practice for routine use but may offer limited benefits when growers are not able to fumigate due to weather, time constraints, or regulatory restrictions. These experiments were complimented with extensive evaluation of the pathogen and microbial communities on roots. These data advanced scientific understanding about the ecology, biology, dynamics and management of targeted plant pathogens and beneficial microbes. A new strawberry pathogen, Cylidrocarpon, was described in NC. Drip applied herbicides proved successful and recommended in tomato and pepper systems, comparable to fumigant-based systems, and offered modest efficacy against yellow nutsedge. We hypothesized vigorous rootstock in grafted tomato systems could provide greater or broader tolerance to herbicides and extended critical periods for weed control. Overall, rootstocks did not offer an advantage but in depth data sets offered substantive information for designing IPM weed programs. Vigorous rootstocks suppressed Verticillium wilt symptoms compared to controls and increased yield similar to fumigants in multiple field trials. GOAL 3: Tactic development: Mustard meal (MM) as a pre-plant soil additive holds promise for strawberries but was less efficacious in tomato systems. MM generated yields intermediate between fumigant and non-fumigated controls. Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) proved very promising in strawberry production systems, comparable to Pic-Clor60. Extensive data sets were secured on the diversity and dynamics of targeted pathogens and microbes on strawberry roots. Additional funds were secured to further pursue and refine these alternative systems. Goal 4: Extension outcomes are below:

Publications

  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Louws, F.J. 2009. IPM for soilborne disease management for vegetable and strawberry crops in SE USA. In: U. Gisi, I. Chet, M.L. Gullino (eds.), Recent Developments in Management of Plant Diseases, Plant Pathology in the 21st Century V1, Springe-Verlage. Pg. 217-227.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Louws, F.J., C.L. Rivard and C. Kubota. 2010. Grafting fruiting vegetables to manage soilborne pathogens, foliar pathogens, arthropods and weeds. Scientia Horticulturae 127:127146
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Rivard, C.L. O. Sydorovych, S. OConnell, M.M. Peet and F.J. Louws. 2010. An economic analysis of two grafted tomato transplant production systems in the United States. HortTechnology 20:794-803.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Dittmar, P.J., D.W. Monks, and K.M. Jennings.� 2012.� Effect of drip-applied herbicides on yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) in plasticulture. Weed Technol.� 26:243-247.�
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Dittmar, P.J., D.W. Monks, and K.M. Jennings.��Tolerance of drip-applied herbicides in bell pepper.� International Journal of Vegetable Science.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Dittmar, P. J.,�D. W. Monks, K. M. Jennings, and F. L. Booker.� 2012.� Tolerance of tomato to herbicides applied through drip irrigation.� Weed Technol.� 26:684-690.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Adhikari, T.B., C.S. Hodges and F.J. Louws. 2013. First report of Cylindrocarpon sp. associated with root rot disease of strawberry in North Carolina. Plant Disease 97:1251.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Liu, B. and F.J. Louws. 2013. Multiple divergent ITS1 copies were identified in single tomato genome using DGGE analysis. Plant Mol Biol Rep (2013) 31:272279. DOI 10.1007/s11105-012-0500-0
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Driver, J.G. and F.J. Louws. 2010. Evaluation of non-fumigant based and drip applied nematicides to manage root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) on yellow squash. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 89/1-89/4.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Tutor, R., B. Bruss, D. Wechsler, W. Buhler, A.Mila, B. Shew, S. Koenning, F. Wright, R. Welker and F.J. Louws. 2010. A multi-institutional public and private response to risk mitigation measures for soil fumigants. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 45/1-45/2.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Rivard, C.L., O. Sydorovych, S. OConnell, M.M. Peet and F.J. Louws. 2012. An economic analysis of two grafted tomato transplant production systems. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction.http://mbao.org/2012/71Rivard.pdf
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Chaudhari, S., K.M. Jennings, D.W. Monks and F.J. Louws. 2012. Response of grafted tomato to Metribuzin, Fomesafen S-Metolachlor, Trifluralin, Napropamide, and Halosulfuron. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction.74/1-74/2.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Driver, J.G., R.M. Welker, and F.J. Louws. 2011. Totally impermeable films for fumigant rate reduction in North Carolina. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 16/1-16/3
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2009 Citation: Welker, R.M., J.G. Driver, C.L. Rivard and F.J. Louws. 2009. Research and extension efforts to enable successful transition away from methyl bromide fumigation. Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 41/1-41/5.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Deyton, D. E., C. E. Sams, D. A. Kopsell, and J. C. Cummins.� 2010.��Using Mustard Seed Meal to Biofumigate Strawberry Soil.� Proc. of the Int. Res. Conf. on Methyl Bromide Alternatives and Emissions Reduction. 79/1-79/2
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Louws et al. updated annually with fumigation/soil health recommendations. http://www.smallfruits.org/SmallFruitsRegGuide/Guides/2014/2014SEStrawberryIPMGuide.pdf
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Iott, M.C. 2013. Utility of Grafting and Evaluation of Rootstocks for the Management of Verticillium Wilt in Tomato Production in Western North Carolina.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Rivard, C.L. 2010. Grafting for Open-field and High Tunnel Tomato Production. (Ph.D.)
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Dittmar, P.J. 2010. Tomato and Pepper Crop Tolerance and Yellow Nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) Control to Drip Applied Herbicides. Ph.D.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2010 Citation: Liu, B., J. Sun, C. Rivard, R. Welker and F.J. Louws. 2010. Comparison of fumigation, mustard meal amendments and grafting on bulk soil microbial communities in tomato fields. Phytopathology 100:S73.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Liu, B., Sun, J., Peeden, K., Driver, J., and Louws, F.J. 2011. Fumigation and fungicide effects and qualitative and quantitative analysis of Pythium, Fusarium and Rhizoctonia on strawberry roots. Phytopathology 101:S108.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Driver, J.G., Welker, R.M., and Louws, F.J. 2011. On-farm research activities to implement methyl bromide alternatives: An area wide initiative update. Phytopathology 101:S45.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Iott, M., Welker, R.M., Rivard, C.L., and Louws, F.J. 2011. Potential role of grafting as a method to manage Verticillium dahliae race 2 in tomato production systems. Phytopathology 101:S79.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Chaudhari, S., K. M. Jennings, D. W. Monks, and F. J. Louws. 2013. Timing of weed establishment in grafted tomato. Weed Sci. Soc. North Carolina.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Chaudhari, S., K. M. Jennings, D. W. Monks, and F. J. Louws. 2013. Critical weed-free period in fresh market plasticulture grafted tomato. Proc. South Weed Sci. Soc.66:221.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Iott, M. , J. G. Driver, F. J. Louws. 2012. Utility of grafting to manage Verticillium wilt of tomato and extension education of grafting in North Carolina. Phytopathology 102:S299.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Peeden, K., Liu, B., and F.J. Louws, 2011. Microbial ecology of soils and strawberry roots in non-treated soils that appear to enhance plant growth compared to fumigated soils. Phytopathology 101:S139.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Sun, J., Liu, B., Peeden, K.A., Driver, J.G., and Louws, F.J. 2011. Fungal communities on strawberry roots and in soils amended with mustard meal (MM). Phytopathology 101:S173.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Louws, F.J., J. Sun, H. Whittington, J. Driver, K. Peeden and B. Liu. 2012. Evaluation of fungicides and mustard meal to manage black root rot of strawberry and analysis of Pythium, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia on strawberry roots. Phytopathology 102:S296.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2011 Citation: Louws, F.J., R.M. Welker, J.G. Driver, M. Rahman, J. Sun, A. Torres-Barragan, K. Peeden and L. Bo. 2011. Dynamics, diversity and integrated management of soilborne pathogens of strawberry. North American Strawberry Symposium Proceedings.