Strålenhielm, Anna
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Conference paper2017Peer reviewed
Impact of organic N on corky root in organically cultivated greenhouse tomatoes
Masrtensson, A.; Friberg, H.
Abstract
Corky root of tomato caused by Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, is a major soil-borne disease in Swedish organic greenhouse production where tomatoes are grown in soil-based substrate. The corky root attacks the roots of the tomatoes and results in a suberisation of the roots reducing the plants ability to take up water and nutrients. Currently, for most producers, corky root resistant grafted plants is a presumption for the production but apprehensions are that this will affect the taste and may result in a build-up of resistance. Other methods for controlling the disease are urgently needed. A way to decrease the problem is to replace the substrate but this is very expensive. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that a proper N fertilization regime decreases disease severity. A greenhouse study was conducted using ungrafted tomato plants which were grown in a substrate naturally infected with corky root at three levels of additions of organic N, combined with three different pH levels. A high N addition increased the yields whereas a high pH reduced the yields. We conclude that tomatoes can resist corky root better at low pH. The reduced tomato yield at high pH cannot be explained by a calcium deficiency due to calcium immobilization at high pH. For organic tomato growers, a substrate with a low pH and a proper N fertilization is recommended.
Keywords
Pyrenochaeta lycopersici; soil pH; soil ammonium; soil nitrate; soil-borne diseases
Published in
Acta Horticulturae
2017, volume: 1164, pages: 327-332
Title: Proceedings of the III International Symposium on Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
Publisher: International Society for Horticultural Science
Conference
III International Symposium on Organic Greenhouse Horticulture
SLU Authors
Friberg, Hanna
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Associated SLU-program
SLU Plant Protection Network
UKÄ Subject classification
Microbiology
Soil Science
Horticulture
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1164.41
- ISBN: 978-94-62611-60-3
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/81281