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Planting in the ‘inter-row’ to overcome replant disease in apple orchards: a study on the effectiveness of the practice based on microbial indicators

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Abstract

Aims

A study on the effectiveness of replanting in “inter-row” to minimize replant disease in apple orchards was performed focusing on the plant-microorganism relationship.

Methods

Simulation of a post transplant period with M9 rootstock plantlets was performed in soil samples taken from five third-generation orchards. Plant growth and root health, root colonizing fungi and bacteria of rhizospheric soil were evaluated at the end of the post-transplant simulation.

Results

Plant growth did not differ across the orchards, but was highest (P > 0.01) in the “inter-row”. Root colonizing fungi composition differed from one orchard to the other, but not between row and inter-row. Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum were the most represented species followed by Cylindrocarpon spp, binucleate Rhizoctonia sp., and Fusarium spp. Cylindrocarpon spp and binucleate Rhizoctonia sp. were pathogenic and occurred everywhere. Rhizosphere bacteria differed across orchards, but their position within the orchards did not. As plant growth response to the row and inter-row varied through the orchards, findings suggest that microbial interaction and pathogen host specificity play a role in plant health.

Conclusions

Replanting in inter-row can minimize replant disease but potential fungal pathogens are endemic in soil, therefore replanting should be associated with strategies increasing soil suppressiveness in established orchards.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank A. Lazzari at the laboratory of mycology at CRA-CIN; and E. Lardschneider and A. R Topp in trials at the Laimburg Research Station, for their technical support.

Study funded by the Italian Ministry of Politics for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mi.P.A.A.F.) through the project ENDOBIOFRUT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Laimburg, 39040, Ora/Auer, BZ, Italy

    Markus Kelderer & Martin Thalheimer

  2. C.R.A. – Processing Crops Research Centre, via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy

    Luisa M. Manici & Francesco Caputo

Authors
  1. Markus Kelderer
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  2. Luisa M. Manici
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  3. Francesco Caputo
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  4. Martin Thalheimer
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Correspondence to Luisa M. Manici.

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Responsible Editor: Peter A.H. Bakker.

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Kelderer, M., Manici, L.M., Caputo, F. et al. Planting in the ‘inter-row’ to overcome replant disease in apple orchards: a study on the effectiveness of the practice based on microbial indicators. Plant Soil 357, 381–393 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1172-0

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