Effect of Formulations of Allyl Isothiocyanate on Survival of Macrophomina phaseolina from Strawberry

Management of Macrophomina phaseolina, causal agent of charcoal rot in many crops worldwide, including strawberry, has become more challenging since the phase out of methyl bromide (MeBr). The search for a fumigant equally effective as MeBr to control soilborne pathogens has been extensive. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a biofumigant recently registered in the United States, was evaluated at different rates, formulations, fumigant combinations, and application methods in the fall of 2014 and 2015 at two research facilities in Balm and Dover, FL. The efficacy of treatments was determined by evaluating the survival of M. phaseolina inoculum on infested corn-cob litter buried in bags 7.6 and 20.3 cm deep in the center, and 7.6 cm deep in the side, of plastic mulched raised beds. The biofumigant was shown to be more or as effective in reducing populations of M. phaseolina in the soil compared with standard fumigants, such as chloropicrin and 1,3-dichloropropene with chloropicrin. Thus, AITC is a promising biofumigant alternative for managing charcoal rot of strawberry, particularly in organic production systems, and should be evaluated for the management of other soilborne pathogens.