Microwave Soil Heating Promotes Strawberry Runner Production and Progeny Performance

Strawberry runners (transplants) in many regions of the world are produced soils treated with chemical fumigants to control pathogens and weeds meet phytosanitary requirements. Many fumigants, however, under threat withdrawal because concerns over their impact on environment (e.g., methyl bromide). The current study considered use microwaves for heat disinfestation soil field-grown first time. Results from two field experiments showed that microwave treatment reduced survival buried inoculum strawberry Fusarium oxysporum (by up 93%) Sclerotium rolfsii 100%) compared untreated soil. Furthermore, subsequent growth these laboratory by 82% 100%, respectively. Microwave also natural DNA concentration Pythium spp. (clades I & F) 94% effect against soilborne as depth increased. emergence 65% increased runner yields 10–37%. yield was greater when all treated, rather than strips around mother plants were treated. complimentary pot early glasshouse equivalent or fumigant bromide/chloropicrin. performance sourced bromide/chloropicrin equivalent. steam required 10 times more energy per mass disinfest microwave. limitations discussed, but capacity technology an energy-efficient manner demonstrates its potential further development alternative fumigants.