Destructive pests such as nematodes, fungi, insects, weeds, and other pathogens can be devastating to a crop. Many common soil-borne issues can be controlled with fumigation.

Leading diseases that need fumigation

FUNGI: The most common soil-borne pathogens. While not all fungi cause plant problems, over 8000 species do. Most plants are susceptible to some type of fungus.

  • Root rot cause the root system to begin to decay. Symptoms may include wilting, yellowing, stunting, dieback and eventual death. Some common root rot fungi include: Pink Root, Charcoal Rot, White Rot, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia.
  • Stem, collar, and crown rots have symptoms similar to root rot, but the rotting starts at or above the soil line. Common pathogens to watch out for include: Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, and Sclerotium.
  • Wilt pathogens, like Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium cause wilting of the plants, despite adequate water. Damping-off diseases affect young seedlings. They can be caused by a handful of fungi, including Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotium rolfsii.

BACTERIA: Examples include Erwinia (soft rot), Rhizomonas (corky root of lettuce), Streptomyces (potato scab, soft rot of sweet potatoes), and Agrobacterium (crown gall).

NEMATODES: Nematodes are microscopic unsegmented worms. They are especially problematic for root crops, like carrots, but they can affect many types of crops, from ornamentals to orchard trees. Root knot nematodes cause distortion and swelling of roots and can affect the plant’s vigor. Needle nematodes feed on the tips of roots, causing branching and swelling. Stubby root nematodes cause short, stubby roots. There are many more types of nematodes, including lesion and cyst.

INSECTS: Fumigation controls or suppresses all life stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) of many destructive insect and other arthropod pests, including garden centipedes and root-feeding beetle larvae.

Fumigation provides a healthy root system for strawberries, melons, nuts, grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, tree fruit, potatoes, onions, carrots, capsicums, eggplants, flowers, nurseries and more.

Contact Trical Australia to speak to one of our fumigation experts 08 8347 3838.