VIEW ARTICLE

Disease Control and Pest Management

Efficacy of Soil Fumigants and Methods of Application for Controlling Southern Blight of Tomatoes Grown for Transplants. S. M. McCarter, Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology and Plant Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens 30602; C. A. Jaworski(2), A. W. Johnson(3), and R. E. Williamson(4). (2)(3)Soil Scientist and Nematologist, respectively, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture; (4)Assistant Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, Georgia 31794. Phytopathology 66:910-913. Accepted for publication 13 January 1976. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-66-910.

Thirteen treatments involving six general purpose fumigants applied by different methods were evaluated for control of southern blight of field-grown tomato transplants caused by Sclerotium rolfsii. All chemicals significantly reduced disease incidence, but they varied greatly in effectiveness. Vapam was the most effective and gave better control when applied as a drench than when injected or incorporated into the soil. Chloropicrin (Picfume, injected), methyl bromide (MC-2), and Terr-O-Gel (injected under polyethylene) were moderately effective in reducing disease incidence. Vorlex (water-soluble formulation) significantly reduced southern blight incidence but gave poorer control than most of the other chemicals regardless of the method of application. Terr-O-Gel and Terr-O-Cide injected into the soil also were less effective than most other treatments.