2013-2014 A Summary Of One Year Of Biological Fungicide Work In Strawberries

The goal behind the studies of biological fungicide was to understand the effectiveness and use of strawberries for any particular purpose.

Materials and Methods:

During the study, the experts planted the field to examine whether the Verticillium invaded or overrun by pests or parasites at the average level of 25 microsclerotia per treatment replicate. They managed grower standard based on the grower practice, with the exclusion of biological fungicide, either by dip or injection through the drip tape. Normal irrigation, fertility, and pest management practices were applied, as well. In the study, at least three times, the plot was replicated consisted of at one bed of 180 feet in length.

List of treatments as indicated below.

Test / Material	Application / Use
Dazitol	6.25 gal/A   applied 3-5 days prior to planting
Biotam +   Serenade Soil	5 lbs/A   pre-plant application 3-5 days prior to planting followed by Serenade Soil @   4 qt/A (10 days after planting, and then Serenade Soil @ 2 qt /A applied   monthly after planting.  Second   application of Biotam 5 lbs/A and Serenade Soil @ 4 qt/A in February.
Serenade   Soil	Serenade   Soil @ 4 qt/A (10 days after planting, and then Serenade Soil @ 2 qt /A   applied monthly after planting.
Serenade   Soil	Serenade   Soil @ 4 qt/A (10 days after planting, and then Serenade Soil @ 4 qt /A   applied every 60 days after planting.
Actinovate   Rate 1	(1) 3 oz   per 100 gal root dip at planting.
	(2)   followed by 6 oz/A pre-plant in drip tape
	(3)   followed by 3 oz/A every 30 days in drip tape
Actinovate   Rate 2	(1) 3 oz   per 100 gal root dip at planting.
	(2)   followed by 6 oz/A pre-plant in drip tape
	(3)   followed by 6 oz/A every 30 days in drip tape
SoilGuard	Apply at   planting as root dip or planting furrow drench at 5 lb/ A and again through   drip tape every 4-6 weeks through harvest.
Double   Nickel 55	Apply at   planting at 1 qt /A (1/2 lb/A powder) as root dip or planting furrow drench   and again through drip tape every 4-6 weeks through harvest.
Terra   Clean 5.0	(1) 128 fl   oz/100 gal drench
	(2) 2   gal/A drip applied at planting
	(3) 1   gal/A drip applied 10 days post plant and 28 days post plant
	(4) 1   gal/A drip applied 60, 90 and 120  days   post plant
Terra Clean 5.0 + Serenade Soil	(1) 128 fl   oz Terra Clean /100 gal drench + Serenade Soil @ 6 qt/ A soil drench
	(2) 2   gal/A Terra Clean drip applied at planting followed by SS @ 3 qt /A
	(3) 1   gal/A Terra Clean + 3 qt /A Serenade Soil drip applied 10 days post plant and   28 days post plant
	(4) 1   gal/A Terra Clean + Serenade Soil @ 3 qt/ A drip applied 60, 90 and 120 days   post plant
Tainio	(1)   Spectrum @ 50 g / A + Pepzyme C @ 12.5 oz/A 2- 3 days preplant
	(2)   Biogenesis @ 1 lb/A+ Pepzyme C @ 12.5 oz/A as plant dip
	(3)   Pepzyme C monthly through drip tape
	(4) Micro   5000 @ 2.66 oz/A at 2 leaf stage foliar

The experts involved in the study suspended fungicide in about 76 liters of water and covered about a half a box of strawberry transplants and then distributed to planting crews for transplant.

Each fungicide was injected with a portable pump to come up with drip applications. In order to ensure the fungicides has moved weal out of the drip tape, the research experts filled the drip tape clear water, injecting the mix and then further pumping in clearwater

Application dates:

Preplant application – 11/3/2012

• Dazitol
• Terra Clean 5.0
• Terraclean 5.0 + Serenade Soil
• Tainio Spectrum + Pepzyme C
• Biotam

Root dip + one overnight hold – 11/7/2012 (planted November 8)

• Actinovate rate 1
• Actinovate rate 2

Root dip and immediate planting – 11/8/2012

• Double Nickel 55
• Soilguard
• Biogenesis + Pepzyme C

10 days post – plant – 11/20/2012

• Serenade 4 qt
• Serenade 2 qt

Monthly applications (12/11/2012, 1/16/2013, 2/26/2013, 3/27/2013, 4/30/2013,  and 6/13/2013)

Terra Clean 5.0

Terraclean 5.0 + Serenade Soil

Tainio Spectrum + Pepzyme C

Serenade 4 qt

Serendade 2 qt

Actinovate rate 1

Actinovate rate 2

Double Nickel 55

Biotam applied 2/26/2013; Serenade 4 qt per acre applied other dates in treatment

Soilguard

From February 13 to April 13, strawberry plant diameters were measured as an instrument of plant vigor from each treatment. 

To establish Verticillium as the main cause of plant death, the experts sampled various dying plants from different areas of the test plots, in the month of July. Harvesting of fruit was also done in each replicate with the beginning of fruit ripening. 

Results:

	Plant D cm    2/13/2013	Plant D cm     4/13/2013	Yield to     5/14/2013	April Total   Yield g/plot
Actinovate   r1	14.05a	16.25a	3894.00a	2175.00ab
Actinovate   r2	13.70ab	16.42a	3818.33a	2428.00a
Biotam	11.47b	15.77a	2176.67b	1377.00b
Dazitol	11.70b	17.70a	2505.67ab	1568.00ab
Double   Nickel 55	12.65ab	15.92a	3084.00ab	1637.00ab
Serenade   4 qt +2 qt	11.57b	16.65a	2853.00ab	1471.67b
Serenade   4 qt +4 qt	12.42ab	16.02a	2621.00ab	1459.67b
Soilguard	11.85b	16.78a	2993.33ab	1652.33ab
Tainio	12.93ab	16.95a	3454.00ab	2075.33ab
Terraclean	11.50b	16.78a	2284.00b	1406.67b
Terraclean   + Serenade	12.47ab	17.11a	2656.33ab	1559.67ab
Untreated   grower standard	11.70b	17.90a	2145.00b	1189.00b

Means followed by the same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, Student-Newman-Keuls)

	May Total  Yield g/plot	June Total    Yield g/plot	July Total Yield g/plot	Aug Total Yield g/plot	Total      Yield g/plot
Actinovate   r1	3741.67a	2791.00a	1902.33a	140.64a	16820.67a
Actinovate   r2	3069.67a	3237.67a	2812.33a	149.35a	17201.34a
Biotam	2254.00a	3251.33a	3402.00a	503.14a	14468.33a
Dazitol	2514.67a	3075.33a	3049.33a	269.16a	14625.00a
Double   Nickel 55	3038.67a	2837.67a	2573.67a	203.64a	15052.67a
Serenade   4 qt +2 qt	3244.67a	3287.00a	3623.67a	371.49a	16887.67a
Serenade   4 qt +4 qt	2959.67a	3617.67a	3236.33a	362.02a	16157.00a
Soilguard	3212.33a	3331.67a	2887.00a	359.45a	16352.33a
Tainio	3409.00a	3687.33a	3190.33a	170.27a	18145.00a
Terraclean	2496.67a	2997.00a	2750.00a	125.01a	13681.33a
Terraclean   + Serenade	2544.00a	2810.00a	2230.00a	191.78a	13454.33a
Untreated   grower standard	2812.00a	4019.33a	3800.00a	306.15a	16150.33a

Means followed by the same letter do not significantly differ (P=.05, Student-Newman-Keuls)

On February 13, 2013, researchers measured the diameters of the plant and found it significantly larger in the low rate of Actinovate compared to various other treatments.  The high rate of Actinovate, Tainio and Double Nickel 55 were exempted.

Compared to all other treatments, the rates of Actinovate realized higher fruit yield, with the exception of the Dazitol, in cumulative fruit yield, which comprised six weekly harvests, up to May 14, 2013. From May to August, no differences were seen, however. 

With approximately 80% remaining alive or declining by the end of July, all plots began to experience pronounced plant dieback in June, proving high infestation of Verticillium. This means that the plants which yielded fruits in large amount in April and May had to experience lesser fruit production, lesser vigour, and earlier dieback as the season progressed

Conclusion

The results drawn from the studies were encouraging. Compared to the grower standard, several treatments had higher amounts of fruits harvested.  However, none of the methods proved to be effective to offer adequate protection to the plants to prevent an almost complete die out of the plants by August.

Please note: The studies of biological fungicide should not be taken as a means to understand the efficacy and use of strawberries for any particular purpose as the researches have not been yet thoroughly tested through empirical studies.