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Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Subramanyam Bhadriraju / Environmental concerns are growing as new information is being discovered as to what is harmful to the environment. The desire to help the environment along with improving fumigations is a big concern and effects many people. Ongoing research to improve fumigations without harming the environment has shown great promise in advancing technology and lowering the cost in protecting commodities consumed by the consumer. Methyl Bromide (MB) has been the major fumigant used to control stored-product insects for many commodities for many years. There has been a lot of concern surrounding MB because of health and environmental drawbacks. These concerns have caused MB to be reduced by 2005. With the total phase out of MB becoming critical, there is much anticipation as what will be the alternative(s). The research presented in this thesis describes two different and very effective methods of controlling stored product insects. Although there are many other methods of fumigating this thesis analyzes two forms; Sulfuryl Fluoride and Heat. The first presented alternative in this paper will be heat treatments. It has the attraction that chemical forms of treatments do not have by having pesticide-free products. The total cost of heat fumigation depends on the complexity of the lay-out/structure and the cost heaters and electricity. This cost can range anywhere from $15,000-25,000. The second alternative that will be discussed is sulfuryl fluoride. This fumigant has many positive aspects that counter act the negative aspects that have been a concern with methyl bromide treatments. These positive aspects include environmentally safe and fast off-gassing. Sulfuryl fluoride is also very efficacious with stored product insects. The labor costs per job, ProFume shows a cost of about $216.00 less than that of a methyl bromide treatment.

Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) are emerging soilborne pathogens causing crown rot and Fusarium wilt, respectively, in commercial strawberry production in California. Fungicides representing eight active ingredients from four different mode of action groups (FRAC groups 1, 3, 7 and 12) were evaluated for their efficacy against each pathogen in vitro and each disease in planta. Fungicide active ingredients were evaluated for their ability to inhibit mycelial growth of both pathogens in vitro. Half-strength potato dextrose agar was amended with six different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, 10, 50 µg a.i./ml) of seven fungicides in FRAC groups 3, 7 and 12. Concentrations that inhibited fungal growth by 75% (EC75) compared to unamended media were determined for two different isolates each of Mp and Fof and were used to determine fungicide rates for subsequent in planta studies. Tebuconazole strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of both pathogens (average EC75 for Mp was 2.4 ppm; average EC75 for Fof was 7.48 ppm), as did metconazole (average EC75 for Mp was2.53 ppm; average EC75 for Fof was 1.28 ppm). Fludioxonil strongly inhibited mycelial growth of Mp, but had no impact on the growth of Fof. Penthiopyrad, fluopyram, flutriafol, and flutolanil were less effective at inhibiting fungal growth of either fungus. Greenhouse in planta studies evaluated twenty-four fungicide treatments (eight fungicides at low, med and high rates) that were drench applied to infested potting media two days prior to planting of pathogen susceptible strawberry cultivars (San Andreas for Mp and Monterey for Fof) and again at day 21. Controls were a non-inoculated and an inoculated water-drench treatment. Buried inoculum was recovered at days 2 and 23 and plated on selective media for colony forming unit (CFU) quantification. Plant disease assessments were made each week for 11 weeks. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) of CFUs revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) among treatments and when compared to the non-treated control for both Mp and Fof, but showed significant decreases (p < 0.05) in CFUs between weeks 1 and 3 for both Mp and Fof. An ANOVA for disease assessments in the form of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) showed significant decreases of disease severity in treatments with penthiopyrad only (low, medium and high rates) (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in AUDPC among treatments and when compared to the non-inoculated and no-fungicide controls for Fof. The data indicates that these fungicides used alone are not effective against these pathogens in planta. A strawberry plant extract (germination stimulant) was assessed for its ability to stimulate germination of Mp microsclerotia in vitro and in planta. The germination stimulant was applied as a drench at six different concentrations (0, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000 and 30,000 ppm) to soil containing filter disk packets of microsclerotia of Mp at day 0 and 14. Filter disk packets were retrieved three days after the drench and microsclerotia were observed microscopically for germination. Results showed that the number of germinating microsclerotia was significantly higher after the application of the germination stimulant compared to non-drench and 0 ppm controls (p < 0.001). An integrated container trial was also conducted using the germination stimulant at 10,000 ppm applied three days prior to a fungicide drench with tebuconazole or thiophanate-methyl to determine the effect of fungicides on the germinated microscleotia. The use of the germination stimulant with label rates of the fungicides lowered the number of germinated intact microsclerotia significantly (p < 0.001) especially after two drench applications. The use of the germination stimulant with fungicides could be investigated further as one method for controlling soilborne diseases of strawberry.

Tyrophagus putrescentiae, known as the ham mite, is the most difficult pest to control in the dry-cured ham industry. Food-grade propylene glycol coated nets have been studied as an alternative to conventional mite infestation treatments but were heavy and costly to ship. This study aimed to increase the ease of use of the coated nets via drying. Three drying treatments: oven dried for 7 min (OD7m), oven dried for 20 min (OD20m), and counter dried for 24 h (CD24h), were tested to determine the efficacy at controlling mites as well as the mechanical properties of the nets and sensory characteristics of ham wrapped in the treated nets. The OD7m and CD24h treatments were effective at controlling mite growth in a laboratory setting. The drying treatments did not affect the mechanical properties, or the sensory characteristics of the hams wrapped with the dried net treatments.

19 Dec 2004. / Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information. "IS-T 2009" Ivana Adamovic. 12/19/2004. Report is also available in paper and microfiche from NTIS.

Methyl bromide (MBr) was widely used as a soil fumigant to manage soilborne pests in plasticulture vegetable production; however, it has been banned by the United Nations Environment Programme. Alternatives to MBr must be implemented to sustain fresh market tomato productivity. Possible MBr alternatives include new fumigant compounds, improved plastic mulch, and grafting. Methyl iodide (MeI) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) were tested as fumigant alternatives to MBr for the control of yellow nutsedge and soilborne pathogens of tomato. Virtually impermeable film (VIF) and totally impermeable film (TIF) were tested for fumigant retention and yellow nutsedge control in tomato. Grafting onto resistant rootstocks was tested for bacterial wilt and nematode management in tomato. In the absence of a soil fumigant, TIF suppressed yellow nutsedge better than VIF. TIF increased fumigant retention compared to VIF at similar application rates. Reduced fumigant application rates could be used in combination with TIF while maintaining fumigant concentrations, weed control, and crop yields comparable to greater use rates with VIF. Shank applied DMDS rates could be lowered to 281 L/ha under TIF from 468 L/ha under VIF; shank applied MeI application rates could be reduced to 56 L/ha under TIF compared to 93 L/ha under VIF and drip applied DMDS could be reduced from 561 L/ha under VIF film to 374 L/ha under TIF. Grafting susceptible commercial tomato cultivars onto resistant tomato hybrid rootstocks increased yields and plant survival in bacterial wilt infested fields. "Cheong Gang", "BHN 998", and "BHN 1054" were the best performing rootstocks for bacterial wilt resistance and tomato fruit yield in severely infested fields. Grafting increased tomato yield and decreased root galling from root-knot nematodes in an infested field. Hybrid rootstock "RST 106" resulted in the lowest root-knot nematode galling. In conclusion, TIF with reduced rates of DMDS or MeI is a viable MBr alternative for fresh market tomato production to retain effective doses of fumigant, manage yellow nutsedge and maintain yields. Grafting is an effective MBr alternative to manage bacterial wilt and root-knot nematode and maintain tomato yields. / Ph. D.

Les nématodes à galles demeurent l'un des problèmes les plus graves des ‎agriculteurs de serres du Liban et du Moyen-Orient. Dans le passé, la fumigation du sol au ‎bromure de méthyle a été considérée comme la meilleure mesure de contrôle contre ces ‎nématodes. Toutefois, à la lumière de l'élimination globale du bromure de méthyle, l'accès ‎aux alternatives efficaces et durables est devenu une nécessité essentielle.‎L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer l'efficacité des deux engrais verts, le radis ‎huileux (Raphanus sativus oleifera) et à la roquette (Eruca vesicaria sativa) appliquées ‎avec ou sans bâche en plastique, séparément et en combinaison avec Oxamyl, dans la ‎gestion des nématodes à galles en cultures de concombres de serre. En outre, cette étude ‎vise à évaluer la faisabilité financière de la technique de biofumigation avec les deux ‎cultures utilisées et de la rentabilité finale de ces engrais verts en termes de taux coût-profit ‎par rapport au bromure de méthyle.‎A cette fin, trois expériences sur le terrain ont été menées dans des serres ‎commerciales, situées sur la zone côtière du Liban.‎Dans les deux expériences A et B, des résultats cohérents ont été enregistrés en ‎termes de production de rendements significativement plus élevés et de la réduction des ‎populations de nématodes avec les engrais verts‎ utilisés avec ou sans bâche en plastique, ‎par rapport au témoin non traité.‎Quant aux résultats obtenus par les engrais verts‎ par rapport ‎ au bromure de ‎méthyle, dans l'expérience A, le rendement produit par le bromure de méthyle était ‎significativement plus élevé que celui du radis huileux avec bâche en plastique. ‎Cependant, la différence n'était pas significative entre la réduction de la population de ‎nématodes résultant du bromure de méthyle et celle du radis huileux avec bâche en ‎plastique. Les différences du rendement ainsi que la réduction des nématodes étaient ‎significatives entre le bromure de méthyle et le radis huileux sans bâche en plastique.‎Dans l'expérience B, aucune différence significative n'a été observée dans le ‎rendement ni la réduction de la population de nématodes entre aucun des deux engrais ‎verts‎ utilisés avec bâche en plastique et le bromure de méthyle. Ces différences étaient ‎significativement en faveur du bromure de méthyle uniquement lorsque le radis huileux a ‎été utilisé sans bâche en plastique.‎Dans l'expérience C, où Vydate (Oxamyl) a été appliqué à la dose de 1 litre par 1,000 ‎m2 à tous les traitements, il n'y avait pas de différence significative dans le rendement ni la ‎réduction de la population de nématodes entre chacun des deux engrais verts utilisés avec ‎ou sans bâche en plastique et le bromure de méthyle.‎L'analyse coût-profit menée sur tous les traitements appliqués dans les 3 ‎expériences a montré que dans tous les cas, tous les traitements appliqués, qu'ils soient ‎chimiques, non-chimique (avec ou sans bâche en plastique) ou en association ont produit ‎des bénéfices nets supérieurs au bromure de méthyle, même lorsque le rendement produit ‎par le bromure de méthyle était significativement plus élevée.‎L'utilisation du plastique pour couvrir les radis huileux a généralement produit de ‎meilleurs résultats en termes de production de rendements plus élevés, une meilleure ‎réduction des populations de nématodes à galles dans le sol, ainsi conduisant à des ‎augmentations raisonnables des profits nets.‎A la base de ces résultats et à la lumière de l'élimination globale du bromure de ‎méthyle, on peut conclure que l'utilisation du radis huileux et la roquette comme engrais ‎verts avec bâche en plastique peut être considéré comme un outil alternatif pour la gestion ‎des nématodes à galles dans la production de concombres de serre dans les conditions ‎libanaises.‎ / Root-knot nematodes remain one of the most serious problems faced ‎by ‎greenhouse farmers of Lebanon and the Middle East region. In the past, soil fumigation ‎with methyl bromide has been considered as ‎the best control measure against root-knot ‎nematodes. However, in the light of the global phase out of methyl bromide, finding ‎efficient and viable alternatives is an essential necessity.‎The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the two biofumigation ‎crops ‎Oil Radish (Raphanus sativus oleifera) and Arugula (Eruca vesicaria sativa) applied ‎with ‎and without plastic tarp, separately and in combination with Oxamyl in the ‎management of ‎the root-knot nematodes in greenhouse cucumber crops. Additionally, this ‎study aimed at ‎assessing the financial feasibility of the biofumigation technique with the ‎two cops used ‎and the final profitability of these green manure crops in terms of cost to ‎benefit ratio as ‎compared to methyl bromide.‎For this purpose, three field experiments were carried out in ‎commercial ‎greenhouses situated on the coastal zone of Lebanon.‎In both experiments A & B consistent results were recorded in terms of production ‎of ‎significantly higher yields and reduction of nematode population with the ‎biofumigation ‎crops used whether with or without plastic cover, as compared to untreated ‎fallow.‎As to the results achieved by the biofumigation crops with respect to methyl ‎bromide, ‎in experiment A yield produced by methyl bromide was significantly higher than ‎oil radish ‎with plastic cover. However, no significant difference was found between ‎reduction of ‎nematode population resulting from methyl bromide and oil radish with plastic ‎cover. ‎Difference was significant between methyl bromide and oil radish without plastic ‎cover in ‎both yield and reduction of nematodes.‎In experiment B no significant difference was observed in neither yield nor ‎reduction ‎of nematode population between any of the two biofumigation crops used with ‎plastic ‎cover and methyl bromide. These differences were significantly in favor of methyl ‎bromide ‎only when oil radish was used without plastic cover.‎In experiment C where Vydate (Oxamyl) was incorporated at the rate of 1 liter ‎per ‎‎1,000 m2 to all treatments, there was no significant difference in neither yield nor ‎reduction ‎of nematode population between any of the two biofumigation crops used with or ‎without ‎plastic cover.‎Cost-benefit analysis made on all treatments applied in the 3 experiments ‎showed ‎that in all cases, all treatments applied, whether chemical, non-chemical (with or ‎without ‎plastic cover) or in combination have produced higher net profits than methyl ‎bromide, ‎even when yield produced by methyl bromide was significantly higher.‎Use of plastic for covering oil radish has generally produced ‎better results in terms ‎of ‎production of higher yields, better reduction of soil ‎populations of root-knot nematodes‏‎ ‎and ‎‏leading to ‎‏reasonable increases of net profits.‎Based on these findings and in the light of global phase out of methyl bromide, ‎it ‎can be concluded that the use of oil radish and arugula as biofumigation crops with ‎plastic ‎cover can be considered as ‎an alternative management tool for the root-knot ‎nematode in ‎greenhouse cucumber ‎production under Lebanese conditions.‎