Potential of butyric acid for control of soil-borne fungal pathogens and nematodes affecting strawberries

The effects of butyric acid were evaluated on fungal and nematode endo-parasites of strawberries under controlled laboratory conditions. Verticillium dahliae, Rhizoctonia fragariae, R. solani, Phytophthora fragariae, and a Pythium sp. were killed after a 2-d incubation in butryic acid-treated sand (0.88 and 8.8 mg g(-1)). No fungal growth occurred in the presence of vapors from 0.1 and I M butyric acid solutions. Gall formation on tomato roots by Meloidogyne hapla, and M. incognita was reduced by 73-100% relative to controls when egg masses were incubated in butyric acid solution (0.1, 1 M) or treated sand (0.88 and 8.8 mg g(-1)). Drenching strawberry plants infested with Pratylenchus penetrans with butyric acid (0.1 and 1M) reduced nematode densities by 98-100%. These results suggest that butyric acid warrants further evaluation as an alternative to synthetic soil fumigants for control of nematodes and fungal pathogens in strawberry. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.