BSU develops method to control cabbage crop disease

A BREAKTHROUGH research at the Benguet State University (BSU) led to the development of an alternative method in managing soil acidity that will control the spread of clubroot (scientific name, plasmodiophora brassicae worm) infection in highland vegetables.

The research was conducted by Jake Bulcio and Dr. Asuncion Nagpala of BSU particularly to address the problem of clubroot infection in cabbages.

Clubroot is caused by a Protozoon (Phylum protozoa), which is characterized by its long life span in soil, especially in acidic environment.

The organism survives in the soil and in dead contaminated crop. Infected plants show symptoms such as yellowing, wilting, stunting, low yield and the club shaped roots, which is why the disease is named.

The researchers discovered that trichoderma, a fungus that dwells in soil, combined with lime has potential effect in controlling clubroot infection. The research was conducted in Natubleng, Buguias and focused on management of clubroot on cabbage using trichoderma and lime.

The research found that when lime along with trichoderma is applied to soil, the micro-organism properties improves, thus enhancing the availability of soil nutrients for the plant’s growth.

The common management of clubroot exercised by cabbage growers in Benguet and Mountain Province is the application of lime to raise the soil PH and the use of soil fungicide so the spores of the organism will be prevented from germinating.

Resting spores of the protozoa are produced in the swollen clubroots and released into the soil when these decompose.

The use of lime has been the common practice to raise the soil PH among highland farmers. However, liming does not kill the spores, it just prevents germination and does not completely eliminate infection.

Nevertheless, it does significantly reduce the infection and disease severity. The application of trichoderma combined with the lime on the other hand, will drastically reduce clubroot’s severity.

Bulcio and Nagpala found crops treated with trichoderma became resistant to diseases. Soil applied with trichoderma has increased pH from 5.82 to 6.17.

Soil is considered neutral when the PH level is at least seven.

The researches experimented applying 20 grams of trichoderma in a controlled field while another field was applied with 15 grams trichoderma with lime.

The experimental fields provided a clubroot control of 79.50% and 79.20%, respectively.

The results recommend while commercial fungicide or flusulfamide provided the highest clubroot control, the application of 20g trichoderma especially when added with lime, can be as effective as the commercial fungicide in protecting roots against clubroot infection.

Also, the study found that applying 20g of trichoderma in at least one hectare farm result to increased weight of cabbage.

“Trichoderma can be used in integrated disease management for Good Agriculture Practice (GAP) to address soil diseases of crucifers and other vegetable crops”, the research recommended. (JMP/With RN)

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