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Copyright 2005, Board of Trustees, University
of Florida

Marston Scierr-

APR 15 1993

University of Florida

EFFICACY OF A NON-FUMIGANT NEMATICIDE,
MOCAP, AND THREE FUMIGANT NEMATACIDES
FOR MANAGEMENT OF MELOIDOGYNE JAVANICA
IN A MULCHED WATERMELON CROP 1992

IFAS NFREC Quincy Research Report

92-15

Jimmy R.
NFREC

Rich

Robert
SVAREC

Rt. 3 Box 4370
Quincy, FL 32351

C. Hochmuth

Rt. 2 Box 2181
Live Oak, FL 32060

RS ,Y

Introduction

The Nematology program located at NFREC, Quincy conducts

research to reduce damage in crops that are important to north

Florida. Nematicide trials are a large part of this effort. The

trial reported herein was conducted at Live Oak to evaluate the

efficacy of Mocap and three fumigant nematicides to manage the

Javanese root-knot nematode in watermelon.

Materials and Methods

A field trail was conducted at the IFAS Suwannee Valley

Agricultural Research Center, Live Oak, in a Lakeland fine sand

soil (93% sand, 4% silt and 3% clay) infested with the Javanese

root-knot nematode, Meloidovgne lavanica. The field was previously

cropped to soybeans and initial population densities of M. javanica

were 263/100 cm3 soil. In early April the field was turned to 10"

deep with a mold board plow and leveled by double discing. Rows

were then bedded for later application of plastic mulch. On April

9, the fumigant nematicides, methyl bromide and Telone II, were

injected in-row to 12" deep with a single chisel. Immediately

following methyl bromide application, a 4' wide plastic mulch was

applied over this bedded treatment to form a bed 2' wide and 6"

high. The fumigant, Busan, was applied similarly but injected with

two chisels 6" apart and 12" deep. Mocap was applied to a 2' wide

band on April 15 with a CO2 pressured sprayer using a 20 gal./A of

water. Mocap was incorporated to 3-5" deep with a PTO operated

rototiller. All remaining plots were covered with the 4' wide

plastic mulch the same day.

'Crimson Sweet' watermelon seed were planted on April 16, and

spaced 36" apart in-row. The trial was arranged in a randomized

complete block design containing 6 replications. Plots were one

row, 7.5' wide and 40' long. The crop was maintained under good

cultural conditions and irrigated as needed over the season.

Marketable watermelons (> 10 lbs A) were harvested from each

plot on July 7 and fruit weights recorded. Final plant stand

counts were made at this time to calculate melon yield/plant to

standardize data. Root gall ratings were conducted on two plants

in each plot on July 9 using a gall scoring system of 0-4.
Results

The three fumigant nematicides significantly reduced root

galling compared to the control treatment (Table 1). No

significant reduction in root galling was found among the Mocap

treatments and the control. At progressively higher rates,

however, root galling was numerically reduced by the Mocap

treatment. Fruit yield data did not indicate any significant

differences among treatments.

Although high initial population densities of M. javanica were

present, no significant yield difference was observed between the

treatments and the control (Table 1). These data may indicate the

rather short nature of this crop in days (ca. 80) thus not allowing

time for a large generational increase of the nematodes until late

in the season. If the crop had been planted earlier in cooler

soils thus slowing plant growth, more nematode damage would have

been expected. Also, cultural management of the crop was very good,

thus reducing nematode stress on the plants.

Table 1. Influence of three fumigant and one nonfumigant
nematicide on yield and root galling of watermelon in a
field trial at Live Oak, Florida, 1992.

Rate Actual Root Fruit Yield/
Treatment Materials/A Galling' Plant (lbs.)

Methyl bromide (98%) 240 lbs. 0.08 a2 23.88 a

Telone II 2.5 gal. 0.08 a 21.7 a

Busan (33%) 12 gal. 0.30 a 23.59 a

Mocap 6EC 2.0 gal. 1.20 ab 21.64 a

Mocap 6EC 1.5 gal. 1.40 ab 23.83 a

Mocap 6EC 1.0 gal. 1.40 ab 21.35 a

Mocap 6EC 0.5 gal. 1.50 ab 22.36 a

Control --- 2.70 b 20.07 a

SRoot gall ratings were on a 0-4 scale
= 76 100% of the root galled.

where 0 = no galling and 4

2 Column means followed by the same letter are not significantly
different according to the Duncan's Multiple Range Test (P >
0.05).