ARS | Publication request: Performance of arugula (Eruca sativa) as a green manure and trap crop for fungal pathogens and parasitic nematode suppression in potato

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 3, 2006
Publication Date: July 29, 2006
Citation: Riga, E., Pierce, F., Collins, H.P. 2006. Performance of arugula (Eruca sativa) as a green manure and trap crop for fungal pathogens and parasitic nematode suppression in potato. American Phytopathological Society Abstracts. 96:S97.

Technical Abstract: Green manures in combination with synthetic nematicides are used to manage plant parasitic nematodes in a potato cropping system. Arugula, Eruca sativa, a Brassica plant, has shown great potential for controlling plant parasitic nematodes as, it has a dual role. Arugula is both a green manure (it contains chemicals with high biocidal activity that mimic synthetic fumigants); and a nematode-trap crop (nematodes are attracted to the roots of Arugula, enter them but are unable to grow and multiply). Control of plant parasitic nematodes is essential to quality potato production in the USA both for the domestic and the international market. Plant parasitic nematodes and fungal pathogens are managed with pesticides but at cost that often exceeds $500 per acre. Greenhouse studies showed that Arugula reduced Meloidogyne chitwoodi in relation to the control and the other green manure treatments. The subsequent filed trial (2005) showed that Arugula in combination with half the recommended rate of Telone improved the potato yield and tuber quality, and it reduced root knot nematode populations, M. chitwoodi, from 700 nematodes per 250cc soil to zero - the economic threshold for M. chitwoodi is 1 nematode per 250cc soil. Arugula in combination with synthetic nematicides reduced Pratylenchus penetrans. In addition, Arugula did not reduce the beneficial free-living nematode populations. In addition, Verticillium and Rhizoctonia levels were reduced by Arugula in combination with ½ Telone, however the reduction was not significantly different. The cost of growing and incorporating Arugula and combining it with ½ rate of Telone was approximately $200 per acre which is much less than the present commercial cost of Telone. However, we put the first year trial in a field that M. chitwoodi and fungal pathogens were extremely high to access the green manure performance under the worse case scenario.