Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation and Brassica Seed Meal Amendment Alter Soil Microbiology and System Resistance

Brassica seed meal amendments and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) control a spectrum of soil-borne plant pathogens via a diversity of mechanisms. Transformations in microbial community structure and function in certain instances were determinants of disease control and enhanced plant performance. For instance, in strawberry field soils, increased strawberry yields in response to ASD were attained in a carbon-source input-dependent manner. ASD conducted with rice bran as the carbon input, but not molasses, resulted in significantly greater yields. Effective ASD treatments, but not ineffective treatments, resulted in increased abundance of bacteria in phylum Bacteroidetes in treated soils, specific genera of which are known to provide biological disease control. Brassica seed meal amendment resulted in development of a soil system suppressive towards disease incited by the root pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina. Brassica seed meal treated orchard soil systems exhibit resistance to re-infestation by soil-borne pathogens, including the plant parasitic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. System resistance is associated with significant and prolonged changes in rhizosphere microbiology and specifically amplification of specific organisms with potential to parasitize P. penetrans.