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Disease Control and Pest Management

Soil Fumigation Effects on Early Blight of Tomato Transplants. S. M. McCarter, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens 30602; C. A. Jaworski(2), and A. W. Johnson(3). (2)(3)Soil Scientist and Nematologist, respectively, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia 31794. Phytopathology 66:1122-1124. Accepted for publication 18 February 1976. Copyright © 1976 The American Phytopathological Society, 3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121. All rights reserved.. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-1122.

Treatment of field plots with certain general-purpose fumigants for control of soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi and nematodes on tomatoes grown for transplants also significantly reduced severity of early blight caused by Alternaria solani. Vapam applied as a drench was more effective than methyl bromide and Vorlex in improving plant vigor and reducing severity of early blight. Sodium azide improved vigor slightly but did not significantly reduce early blight. Decreased disease severity on plants in fumigated plots was attributed to increased plant vigor rather than elimination of primary inoculum.