We have been using mechanical transplanters to transplant seedlings of bulb onion for four or five years. The plug trays for mechanical transplanters is expensive, so we are using the trays annually. Many farmers experienced serious Fusarium basal rot of onions after using recycled trays at harvest and after storing in cold room for several months. It is not exactly confirmed yet that the disease come from the trays. If it is right, what is the effective methods to control Fusarium basal rot infected by used seedling trays in transplanted bulb onions? is there some chemicals effective and not expensive against the disease?
First of all, reusing trays is ok if they are "sterilized" in at least a 10% (A.I.) solution of chlorine ( hypo chlorate, or clothes washing disinfectant) for 24 hours and left to disapate before use. You need to locate the source of fuarium (in the potting mix?) so it wont happen next time. To erradicate the fusarium in the onions use Folicur plus Carbenzum, or a " Stroby" type fungicide (All-star, Twist, Opera). Folicur is cheaper.
Hygienic practice with trays and potting mix needs to improve. Cold doesn't necessarily kill all fungus diseases, some like Fusarium, Phytopthora, and Pythium, and other damping off type diseases have "resting" spores that can survive harsh conditions.
Dip the bulbs in secondary metabolites from Pseudomonas fluorescens for 30 min
Anton Nikoloff
Thank you so much for your effective solution against sterilization of used seedling trays.
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