Abstract
Phelipanche ramosa (L) Pomel is a root holoparasitic weed for many crops, particularly for the processing tomato in Italy. In order to integrate the use of chemical methods to control P. ramosa (L.), there has been an increased effort to research alternative methods using natural compounds. In this regard, two experimental trials were set up in an open field in Foggia (southern Italy) during the 2016 spring–summer seasons. The first trial compared two tomato seedling transplanting dates to evaluate the effects on emerged shoots of P. ramosa. The second trial compared six organic compounds added to the soil to control P. ramosa: olive-mill wastewater and five commercial products (Allyl Isothiocyanate®, Alfaplus®, Radicon®, Rhizosum Max®, and Kendal Nem®). An untreated control was also included. The numbers of P. ramosa emerged shoots (branched plants) were significantly lower for the late tomato seedling transplanting date than for the earlier one. All of the organic products tested that were applied to the soil, particularly olive-mill wastewater, Alfaplus®, Rhizosum Max®, and Kendal Nem®, showed a significant reduction of the P. ramosa infestation of the tomato crop with respect to the untreated control, with a positive effect on the productive parameters.
Highlights
The Apulia region is the most important area for processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), with almost 20,000 hectares [1] grown annually, 90% of which are located in the agricultural area of Foggia province
P. ramosa plants emerged above the ground 56 days after transplanting (DAT)
The field experiments consisted of two trials: in the first, the effects of two tomato transplanting dates (April and May 2016) on infestation by P. ramosa was evaluated; in the second, the effects of the soil application of olive-mill wastewater produced from the olive oil extraction process and five commercial organo-mineral compounds (Allyl Isothiocyanate®, Alfaplus®, Radicon®, Rhizosum Max®, and Kendal® ) on the control of P. ramosa were evaluated
Summary
The Apulia region (southern Italy) is the most important area for processing tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), with almost 20,000 hectares [1] grown annually, 90% of which are located in the agricultural area of Foggia province. Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel is the most widespread holoparasitic species that parasitizes tomatoes in the early spring. It scatters seeds in the summer at the end of the tomato growing season, which can be considered the most damaging for many other dicotyledons. The germination of P. ramosa seeds is stimulated by root exudates from the crop hosts, and in the absence of a host, the seeds can remain dormant and viable for 10 years or more. This persistent “seed bank” makes it complex for any crop rotation to be efficient and indicates the need for rigorous prevention of P. ramosa seed production for its successful control [3,4]. Eliminating the Agronomy 2018, 8, 92; doi:10.3390/agronomy8060092 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
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