Control of Globodera rostochiensis by Solar Heat. J. A. LaMondia, Graduate Research Assistant, USDA, ARS, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. B. B. Brodie, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA, ARS, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. Plant Dis. 68:474-476. Accepted for publication 27 December 1983. This article is in the public domain and not copyrightable. It may be freely reprinted with customary crediting of the source. The American Phytopathological Society, 1984. DOI: 10.1094/PD-68-474.

The effect of clear and black plastic mulches with and without irrigation on survival of Globodera rostochiensis was compared with survival using no mulch. Clear plastic mulch reduced natural soil populations by 96.2–98.6% to a depth of 10 cm, totally eliminated encysted juveniles buried 5 cm deep, and significantly reduced survival of encysted juveniles buried 10 and 15 cm deep. Black plastic affected survival of G. rostochiensis to a depth of 5 cm. Survival of encysted juveniles in irrigated soil was significantly less than in soil without irrigation. When the experiments were repeated during the unusually cool summer of 1982, use of clear plastic significantly reduced the hatch of buried encysted juveniles, but control was less effective than in 1981.

Keyword(s): solarization, temperature.