Abstract
Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a primary component of the early dying complex of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in the United States. Although genetic resistance to V. dahliae exists and has been incorporated into several potato cultivars, the commercial potato industry is still dominated by cultivars susceptible to the pathogen. As a result, soil fumigation with metam sodium remains an important means by which Verticillium wilt is controlled, despite its expense and potentially negative environmental impact. Recent restrictions on metam sodium use by the Environmental Protection Agency directed at reducing exposure to vapor emissions have increased the need to improve shank injection of the soil fumigant. In studies reported here, the application of metam sodium reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt, however, soil temperature at the time of injection, metam sodium injection depth, and application rate had little overall effect. In 2011, temperature at the time of metam sodium injection did not result in significant differences in any parameter evaluated. However, in 2012, soil populations of V. dahliae, wilt severity and host colonization were significantly reduced when metam sodium was applied at 4 °C compared to 13 or 15 °C. No significant differences were observed between a single or two metam sodium injection depths in any parameter evaluated across the 2 years the study was conducted. While all rates of metam sodium significantly reduced soil populations of V. dahliae compared to the non-treated control, significant differences across rates were rarely observed. Improved control of Verticillium wilt and increased yield can be achieved as a result of these studies. The effective control of Verticillium wilt can be obtained by using metam sodium at a comparatively low rate of 373 l/ha, particularly when applied at a relatively cold soil temperature of 4 °C using a single injection depth of 25 cm. The potential impact of these application modifications of metam sodium in reducing emissions and non-target exposure is discussed.
Resumen
La marchitez por Verticillium, causada por Verticillium dahliae Kleb., es un componente primario del complejo de muerte temprana de papa (Solanum tuberosum L.) en los Estados Unidos. Aun cuando existe resistencia genética a V. dahliae y se ha incorporado a varias variedades de papa, la industria de la papa comercial aún está dominada por variedades susceptibles al patógeno. Como resultado, la fumigación del suelo con metam sodio permanece como un medio importante por el cual se controla la marchitez por Verticillium, a pesar de que es caro y de su impacto ambiental potencialmente negativo. Restricciones recientes en el uso de metam sodio por la Agencia de Protección al Ambiente dirigidas a la reducción de la exposición a las emisiones de vapor, han aumentado la necesidad de mejorar las inyecciones del fumigante del suelo. En estudios aquí reportados, la aplicación del metam sodio redujo la severidad de la marchitez por Verticillium, no obstante, la temperatura del suelo al momento de la inyección, la profundidad de ésta, y la dosis de aplicación, tuvieron poco efecto en general. En 2011, la temperatura al momento de la inyección del metam sodio no resultó en diferencias significativas en cualquier parámetro. No obstante, en 2012, las poblaciones del suelo de V. dahliae, la severidad del marchitamiento y la colonización del hospedante se redujeron significativamente cuando el metam sodio se aplicó a 4 °C comparado a 13º o 15 °C. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre una o dos profundidades de inyección de metam sodio en cualquier parámetro evaluado a lo largo de los dos años de la conducción del estudio. Mientras todas las dosis de metam sodio redujeron significativamente las poblaciones en el suelo de V. dahliae comparadas con el testigo sin tratar, raramente se observaron diferencias significativas entre los niveles. El mejoramiento en el control del marchitamiento por Verticillium y el incremento en el rendimiento se pueden lograr como resultado de estos estudios. El control efectivo de la marchitez por Verticillium se puede obtener mediante el uso de metam sodio a una dosis comparativamente baja de 373 l/ha, particularmente cuando se aplica a una temperatura relativamente fría del suelo de 4 °C usando una sola profundidad de inyección de 25 cm. Se discute el impacto potencial de estas modificaciones de aplicación de metam sodio en la reducción de emisiones y de exposición a no-objetivos.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association, Minnesota Area II Potato Growers, AmVac, Inc., RD Offutt, Co., CSS Farms and Walther Farms. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Dean Peterson, Russell Benz and Ipsita Mallik.
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Pasche, J.S., Taylor, R.J., David, N.L. et al. Effect of Soil Temperature, Injection Depth, and Metam Sodium Rate on the Management of Verticillium Wilt of Potato. Am. J. Potato Res. 91, 277–290 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9348-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-013-9348-6