Integrated effects of anaerobic soil disinfestation and beneficial microbes in strawberry production.

ABSTRACT: Fruit rot diseases, including anthracnose fruit rot and Botrytis fruit rot caused by Colletotrichum acutatum and Botrytis cinerea, respectively, pose major challenges to sustainable strawberry production in the United States. Organic and small-scale growers require non-chemical alternatives to soil fumigation due to health, regulatory, or technical constraints. This study evaluated anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), beneficial bacteria (Bacillus velezensis IALR619 and TerraGrow-a commercial product), and their combinations as integrated strategies to manage fruit rot, suppress weeds, and enhance fruit quality. A split-plot field trial was conducted over two growing seasons (2022/23-2023/24) at the Hampton Roads AREC in Virginia Beach, VA. ASD significantly reduced AFR, BFR, and overall f

SUBMITTER: Aljawasim BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671810 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature