Bean Pepper Squash
 Stand loss in bean (left), pepper (middle), and squash (right) in Phytophthora-infested fields that had been flooded.
Methyl Bromide Transitions Grant
Award No. 2007-51102-18293, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service
Methyl Bromide Transition Plan for Michigan's Fresh Market Vegetable Growers
2007-10
Dr. M.K. Hausbeck, Project Director
Department of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1311
Methyl bromide minimizes the probability of a catastrophic yield loss due to diseases and weed competition.  Michigan vegetable growers practice integrated pest management, but root, crown, and fruit rot caused by Phytophthora capsici is a persistent and difficult problem.  Methyl bromide has been shown to be effective against this soilborne, fungal-like pathogen and commonly occurring weeds.  As a result, some of Michigan’s growers of fresh market vegetables have become reliant on methyl bromide. Our goal is to develop a plan for Michigan’s fresh market cucurbit and pepper growers to reduce methyl bromide emissions and increase the use of methyl bromide alternatives.  This will be accomplished through testing potential fumigant alternatives to methyl bromide to determine whether they are: 1.) effective against P. capsici and commonly occurring weeds, 2.) economically beneficial, and 3.) easily integrated into current production systems in Michigan.  Grafted plants represent a novel, nonfumigant method to control P. capsici and will also be tested.  Trials will be conducted with grower cooperators on a large scale basis and examine various fumigants, virtually impermeable film, and grafted plants.  Researchers will partner with growers and farmer groups to implement research advances from this project via demonstration field plots, irrigation monitoring and scheduling, field meetings, reporting sessions with growers, packers and consultants, newsletters, and formal educational programs.