The effect of disinfectants on fungal diseases of potato and vegetables

Authors

• Hilkka Koponen Department of Plant Biology, P.O.Box 28, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
• Hanna Avikainen Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Institute of Plant Protection, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland
• Risto Tahvonen Agricultural Research Centre of Finland, Institute of Plant Protection, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72646

Abstract

Treatments of one and ten minutes were too short for all disinfectants against fungi in peat and plant debris. The best effect was achieved with a treatment of 90 min. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was the most effective and Korsolin and Virkon S were the least effective in the control of Fusarium culmorum and F. oxysporum. Virkon S (2%) was the most effective against Mycocentrospora acerina and Phoma foveata. Soaking for 15 min and 60 min in a disinfection suspension eradicated Botrytis cinerea and P. foveata totally from the contaminated plastic pots. Fusarium spp. were the most difficult fungi to disinfect and these were best controlled with formaline, lobac P, Menno-Ter-forte and sodium hypochlorite. lobac P, formaline, Menno-Ter-forte, Taloset and Virkon S were the most effective disinfectants against club rot (Plasmodiophora hrassicae). Washing under running water was not sufficient to eradicate club rot. Against Rhizoctonia -induced damping off of cauliflower the most effective disinfectants were formaline and Virkon S.