Mitigation of Replant Disease using Solarization in American Ginseng (Panex quinquefolius)
Abstract
Ginseng is a perennial plant that is prone to replant disease (GRD), in which ginseng cannot be re-cultivated in a former ginseng garden, largely due to pathogens in the soil. The current mitigation strategy is soil fumigation, but fumigants are being phased out. I assessed the use of solarization as an alternative to fumigation in treating GRD. Two factors, i.e., the timing and duration of solarization, were evaluated, using temperature comparisons, stand counts and root disease as indicators. I found that solarization of raised beds resulted in higher soil temperatures compared with unsolarized beds. While the duration of solarization did not improve the stand count in the first growth year, there was a significant increase in yield of marketable roots, and significant reduction in Illyonectria mors panacis root rot. I conclude that solarization is a promising alternative to fumigation to reduce the persistence of GRD in former ginseng gardens.