VATIS UPDATE Article

In a recent study conducted by the College of Agriculture, University of Southern Mindanao, Philippines, researchers evaluated the potential of nonbrassicaceous plants as biofumigants against S. rolfsii causing stem and root rot (SRR) of coffee seedlings; determine which of the test treatments would be most effective in managing the target disease; and, determine the cost efficacy of treatments usage for a thousand coffee seedlings as eradicative treatments against S. rolfsii causing SRR of coffee seedlings.

All non–brassicaceous biofumigants significantly reduced population density of S. rolfsii two months after biofumigation. Four (4) test biofumigants (Marigold, Mayana, Tsitsirika plants and Moringa leaves) treated plants exhibited longer days to symptom appearance of SRR in coffee seedlings comparable to Rose Balsam (nonbrassicaceous) and Cabbage Wastes (brassicaceous check) treated plants.

Application of nonbrassicaceous test biofumigants significantly reduced the percentage infection (PI) and severity infection(%DI) of SRR on Robusta coffee seedlings caused by S. rolfsii after two months of biofumigation comparable to RB (nonbrassicaceous check) and CWs (brassicaceous check). The inoculated/untreated control had the highest PI and %DI with respective means of 92.50 and 84.