Project Number: 5350-22000-017-06
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jul 01, 2008
End Date: Aug 14, 2011

Objective:
This research program seeks to identify and implement methods, which are compatible with organic production systems, for the control of disease phenomena that are biologically complex. Our goal is to develop a management program that ensures successful establishment of new fruit trees on old orchard sites and sustains productivity of these orchards through maximizing the efficiency of the biological resources resident to the orchard soil ecosystem.

Approach:
A composite brassicaceous seed meal in concert with use of a disease tolerant apple rootstock will be evaluated as an alternative to soil fumigation for control of apple replant disease in field trials. The impact of seed meal particle size on generation of biologically active chemistries (allyl-isothiocyanate) from Brassica juncea seed meal soil amendment, and composition of the resident soil microbial community contributing to disease suppression. The effect of different brassicaceae seed meals or composite seed meal amendments on composition and activity of resident soil fauna communities involved in N mineralization will be determined. The use of a composite seed meal to decrease rates nitrification and thus minimize N loss resulting from leaching will be assessed. Documents Reimbursable with CSREES. Log 35377.