Control of Texas Gourd,<i>Cucurbita texana</i>, with<i>Fusarium solani</i>f. sp.<i>cucurbitae</i>

Abstract

The soil-borne fungus, Fusarium solani (Mart.) App. &amp; Wr. f. sp. cucurbitae , has shown potential as a mycoherbicide to control Texas gourd. Formulations and times of application that effectively controlled Texas gourd were determined in field studies. Aqueous conidial suspensions (1 × 10 8 microconidia/ml) were applied preplant incorporated, postemergence, or both at 280 L/ha alone or combined with trifluralin at 1 kg ai/ha. Alginate granules containing fungal spores and hyphae and amended with 2% (w/v) soyflour were applied pre- or postemergence at 220 kg/ha alone or sequentially with conidial applications. Mortality of 70% or greater was achieved with eight of nine fungal treatments. The fungus applied as conidia combined with trifluralin, as well as trifluralin alone, significantly reduced Texas gourd emergence.