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Warwood

Inquiring to see if anyone, including any veteran growers, has found a plant that appears to be resistive, at least some degree, to the dreaded Fusarium plague. This disease hits most growers at one time or another. South of the 40 deg. latitude even worse.
I planted the 1443.5 Ellsworth from a whim and liked the cross (1725 Harp x 1810 Stevens). The plant has this year appeared to fight off Fusarium advances. Any lower basal stem areas effected were topped by the plant actually growing over the disease and forming more roots. There was lumpy bumpy areas over the area of previous disease and more roots which within a few days were headed into the ground.
Whether this be genetic,that I added bio beneficial drenches much of the season with many N fixers present the fact I did follow a standard good drench and spray system, I did also with the other plant in which I lost an est. 1100 lber. OTT measured on Aug. 14th from the Wallace 2009. A 3" x 3" soft spot just at near bottom in front. Most of the plant did well but the main started getting effected by the F&(^*((07 (excuse me, Fusarium). Since that time I beleive the disease took somewhat of a vascular ride into the core of the fruit and voila, rot from the inside out. Frustrating, but I've learned just to walk away at this point.
Ifff, we may be getting to more Fusarium resistant genetics from growing these things frequently in grounds that are often invaded by this dreaded disease...a better playing field would start to unfold. Iffff you can keep away disease your chances are greatly increased. Thanks for letting me just vent for now.
The fruit "Elsie" on the 1443.5 is doing well and looking forward to weigh-off.
There are more protective and effective products being developed and used now but are now in other countries.
Anyone that would be interested in discussing this topic please e-mail me at: [email protected]
Sincere Thanks

9/11/2013 4:23:44 PM

NE Kansas

What about creating soil resistance through a diversity of hygienic flora? (ie. soil immune system)

9/11/2013 4:35:31 PM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

What do you mean Nelson?

9/12/2013 3:33:01 PM

NE Kansas

Fusarium is a pathogenic fungus, a disease. Most garden soils have Fusarium present in them to some degree. If Fusarium has infected your soil to the degree where it is out of control and infecting your plants, then your soil is has an illness, a disease.

Breeding a resistance into your plants is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can simply end up masking a greater underlying problem. A plant dying from Fusarium is a symptom. The plant is trying to tell you that something is very wrong with the health of your soil. If you remove the ability of the plant to communicate that all is not well, then it is like cutting off the nerve signals to your brain that tell you when something hurts.

Unhealthy soil cannot translate into a healthy plant. It simply defies logic.

These are the soil flora that regulate and control Fusarium in a biological manner: Trichoderma, Hypoxylon, Tritirachium, Paenibacillus, Bacillus, Haliangium and Streptomyces. These beneficial bacteria and fungi are part of the immune system of your soil. If you increase the presence of these flora, then any resistance that can be bred into the plant will just be for additional benefit.

9/12/2013 4:57:08 PM

Leerdam, The Netherlands

Thank you Nelson!

9/13/2013 6:02:42 AM

Williamsport, Pa.

great topic, now as a grower who has this problem, how do i or we increase these beificial organisims.sounds like some of these flors are containd in myco. hope this forum continues

9/13/2013 6:22:19 AM

Central Minnesota

Thank you D Nelson. We often forget about prevention and focus on treatments after the fact.

9/13/2013 9:04:18 AM