Abstract
Better soil disinfestation methods, such as biological soil disinfestation (BSD), that are environmentally safe are increasingly been developed and used because of rising concerns related to environmental risks. We evaluated the efficacy of soil disinfestation using ethanol to control the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, which causes fusarium wilt of tomato. Survival of bud cells and chlamydospores declined markedly in soil saturated with diluted ethanol solution in the laboratory. In field trials, artificially added nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and indigenous F. oxysporum were both strongly suppressed in soil saturated with 1% ethanol solution; a wheat bran treatment was not as effective. The artificially added fungus was not detected in three of four sites treated with ethanol but was detected in three of four sites amended with wheat bran. Using ethanol in pre-autoclaved soil was not suppressive; thus native microorganisms are essential for the suppression. This ethanol-mediated biological soil disinfestation (Et-BSD) temporarily increased the number of anaerobic bacteria, but the number of fungi and aerobic bacteria was stable. Polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) analysis revealed slight but apparent differences in bacterial community structures in the soil treated with Et-BSD compared with the structure in soils after other treatments such as water irrigation and in the control soil, which received neither organic amendment nor irrigation after 15 days. Et-BSD is a potentially effective and easy soil disinfestation method, and its impact on native, beneficial microorganisms is moderate.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blok WJ, Lamers JG, Termorshuizen AJ, Bollen GJ (2000) Control of soilborne plant pathogens by incorporating fresh organic amendments followed by tarping. Phytopathology 90:253–259
Childs CW (1981) Field tests for ferrous iron and ferric-organic complexes (on exchange sites or in water-soluble forms) in soils. Aust J Soil Res 19:175–180
Gamliel A, Austerweil M, Kritzman G (2000) Non-chemical approach to soilborne pest management—organic amendments. Crop Prot 19:847–853
Hoshino TY, Matsumoto N, Nishimura N, Fujita K, Kioka Y (2005) Impact of soil fumigation on soil microbial community and plant pathogens (in Japanese). Soil Microorg 59:77–82
Katan J (2000) Physical and cultural methods for the management of soil-borne pathogens. Crop Prot 19:725–731
Kita N (2004) Practical use of the hot water soil sterilization in agricultural production (in Japanese with English summary). PSJ Soilborne Dis Workshop Rep 22:38–48
Kobara Y, Sato M, Sakamoto K, Kamibeppu S, Sato R, Abekura H, Uematsu S, Mihira T, Miwa C (2007a) Methods for reductive disinfection of soil, reductive disinfectants for soil, methods for wetting disinfection of soil, wetting disinfectants for soil, and systems for drenching soil with disinfectants. Japanese Patent JP4436426, 2007
Kobara Y, Uematsu S, Tanaka-Miwa C, Sato R, Sato M (2007b) Possibility of the new soil fumigation technique with ethanol solution. In: Proceedings of 2007 annual research conference on methyl bromide alternatives and emissions reduction, pp 74
Momma N (2008) Biological soil disinfestation (BSD) of soilborne pathogens and its possible mechanisms. JARQ 42:7–12
Momma N, Usami T, Amemiya Y, Shishido M (2005) Factors involved in the suppression of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici by soil reduction (in Japanese with English summary). Soil Microorg 59:27–33
Momma N, Yamamoto K, Simandi P, Shishido M (2006) Role of organic acids in the mechanisms of biological soil disinfestation (BSD). J Gen Plant Pathol 72:247–252
Momma N, Usami T, Shishido M (2007) Detection of Clostridium sp. inducing biological soil disinfestation (BSD) and suppression of pathogens causing Fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt of tomato by gases evolved during BSD (in Japanese with English summary). Soil Microorg 61:3–9
Morimoto S, Hoshino Y (2008) Methods for analysis of soil communities by PCR-DGGE. 1. Bacterial and fungal communities (in Japanese). Soil Microorg 62:63–68. http://www.niaes.affrc.go.jp/project/edna/edna_jp/manual_bacterium.pdf
Nishimura N (2007) Selective media for Fusarium oxysporum. J Gen Plant Pathol 73:342–348
Shinmura A (2000) Causal agent and control of root rot of Welsh onion (in Japanese). PSJ Soilborne Dis Workshop Rep 20:133–143
Shinmura A (2004) Principle and effect of soil sterilization method by reducing redox potential of soil (in Japanese). PSJ Soilborne Dis Workshop Rep 22:2–12
Takehara T (2004) Principles and effects of soil disinfestation with hot water (in Japanese). PSJ Soilborne Dis Workshop Rep 22:22–37
Takeuchi T (2004) Control of soil-borne diseases by steam sterilization in Kochi Prefecture (in Japanese). PSJ Soilborne Dis Workshop Rep 22:49–60
Uematsu S, Tanaka-Miwa C, Sato R, Kobara Y, Sato M (2007) Ethyl alcohol as a promising material of reductive soil disinfestation for controlling root knot nematode and soilborne plant diseases. In: Proceedings of 2007 annual research conference on methyl bromide alternatives and emissions reduction, pp 75
Acknowledgments
We thank Y. Amemiya (Chiba University) for helpful discussion and for providing a fungal isolate and also appreciate the valuable comments and help in polishing this paper by N. Matsumoto (National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region). We also thank the Kanto Regional Agricultural Administration Office for arranging field trials. This research work was supported in part by research and development projects for promoting new policies of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Momma, N., Momma, M. & Kobara, Y. Biological soil disinfestation using ethanol: effect on Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and soil microorganisms. J Gen Plant Pathol 76, 336–344 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-010-0252-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-010-0252-3