Co-Authors:
Freeman, S., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Sztejnberg, A., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Shabi, E., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, 76100, Israel, Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel
Katan, J., Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Abstract:
The effects of pre- and post-planting soil solarization on white root rot of apple caused by Rosellinia necatrix were examined in two naturally infested orchards. The pathogen was eradicated in solarized soil to a depth of 30 cm. Partial or complete destruction of the pathogen was obtained in solarized-shaded (partially shaded by the tree canopy) plots. No reinfestation of solarized and solarized-shaded soil was observed 2 years after treatment. No death of replanted apple trees occurred in the solarized plots up to 2 years after solarization, whereas 60% of trees died in untreated plots. No disease developed during the third year after solarization in an existing apple orchard, but a low rate of disease recurred in the fourth year. In contrast, mortality in diseased trees in the absence of solarization reached 100%, 4 years after treatment. Two previously solarized soils, out of seven tested, caused reduced growth of the pathogen, indicating induction of soil suppressiveness by solarization. © 1990.