Evaluation of Soil Fumigants for Management of Verticillium Wilt of Peanut in Texas

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of the fumigants chloropicrin and metam sodium on soil populations of Verticillium dahliae, disease incidence, and peanut yield and grade. Chloropicrin was ineffective at reducing soil populations of V. dahliae. The application of chloropicrin provided a 7 to 10% reduction in incidence of Verticillium wilt; however, there was no effect on yield or grade. Applications of metam sodium reduced soil populations of V. dahliae, but did not impact disease incidence, yield, or grade. Although fumigants had a minor effect on V. dahliae and disease incidence, the lack of a response in yield or quality limits the use of these chemicals in a production system. Accepted for publication 13 January 2011. Published 23 March 2011.