VIEW ARTICLE

Control of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato with Lime and Soil Fumigants. John Paul Jones, Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Bradenton, Florida 33505; A. J. Overman, Associate Nematologist, Agricultural Research and Education Center, Bradenton, Florida 33505. Phytopathology 61:1415-1417. Accepted for publication 1 July 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-1415.

Adjusting the soil pH from 6.0 to 7.0 or 7.5 reduced the incidence of Fusarium wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici race 2, and increased total tomato fruit yields. The incidence of wilt was less, and yields were greater at a soil pH of 7.5 than at 7.0. Both Vorlex (methylisothiocyanate + D-D) and a 3:2 mixture of chloropicrin and D-D (mixture of 1,3-dichloropropene, 1,2-dichloropropane, and related hydrocarbons) at 35 gal/acre (327 liters/hectare) and 60 gal/acre 561 liters/hectare), respectively, gave excellent wilt control and yield responses. The chloropicrin + D-D mixture was phytotoxic and delayed maturity, especially at pH 6.0, although yields were markedly increased. Increasing the soil pH to 7.0 or 7.5 increased yields as much as either fumigant at pH 6.0. However, the combination of fumigation plus increased pH increased yields as much as 72%, as compared to unfumigated, unlimed plots at pH 6.0.