Comparative efficacy of biodegradable plastic and low density polyethylene mulch on viability of soilborne plant pathogens of strawberry

Soil-borne diseases like crown rot ( Rhizoctonia solani ), southern blight ( Sclerotium rolfsii ) and wilt ( Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae ) are among the important diseases of strawberry. Comparative efficacy of polyethylene and biodegradable mulch was observed in solarization for 40 days in May-June on these pathogens. Biodegradable plastic mulch (BPM) was found slightly less effective with average maximum temperature of 36.9 and 39.1°C in comparison to 38.3 and 40.1°C in low density polyethylene mulch (LDPM) in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Soil solarization with BPM resulted in 96.6, 97.2 and 98.0% reduction in the viability of propagules/sclerotia of F. oxysporum f.sp. fragariae, S. rolfsii and R. solani in comparison to 100% reduction in viability with LDPM at 5 cm soil depth. These pathogens did not survive beyond 40°C in thermal sensitivity test in water bath.