Fluctuation of Fusarium distribution in soil and the role of the forecrop in the control of Fusarium wilt of flax

• Main Author: H. Zarzycka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Polish Botanical Society 2015-06-01
• Series: Acta Agrobotanica
• Online Access: https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/aa/article/view/5974

The influence of crop rotation and wheather conditions on the Fusarium population in soil and on Fusarium wilt of flax was examined in the Institute of Native Natural Fibres in 1968-1975. The experiments were carried out in various regions of flax planting in Poland during 8 years. Crop rotation had a significant influence on the process of biological soil disinfestation. Fusarium population in soil increased after planting flax, wheat, barley and sugar-beet, and decreased or did not change after rape, hemp, potato and leguminous plants. The crop rotation significantly influenced the composition of the Fusarium population as far as species are concerned. The highest wilt infection of flax was found in plantings after flax, sugarbeet and wheat and the weakest in plantings after rape. A six-year crop rotation was sufficient to eliminate the wilt pathogen from infested soil. But on flax-sick soil the process of biological disinfestation proceeded more slowly and a seven-year interval between flax crops was too short.