Genetic and Cultural Control of Fusarium Root Rot in Bush Snap Beans. M. J. Silbernagel, Research Plant Pathologist, Vegetable and Forage Crops Production, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Lynn J. Mills, Research Technologist, Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Prosser, WA 99350. Plant Dis. 74:61-66. Accepted for publication 20 August 1989. 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, 1990. DOI: 10.1094/PD-74-0061.

Deep subsoiling, narrow row spacing, and the use of resistant cultivars increased seed yields of bush snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) grown in fields infested with Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli, the principal causal agent of root rot. Deep subsoiling was more effective than narrow row spacing in increasing seed yields. Irrigation at 50% vs. 60% available soil moisture did not reduce seed yields. Because of its high genetic resistance to Fusarium root rot, bean line FR-266 had a seed yield almost double that of susceptible cultivar Blue Mountain under most combinations of cultural practice treatments. Growing resistant FR-266 combined with subsoiling, narrow rows, and irrigation after 50% available soil moisture depletion raised 3-yr mean seed yields to 2836 kg/ha, which was 310% of the yield for susceptible Blue Mountain grown under standard cultural practice conditions.