(Fwd) Avocados and Phosphonic acid

Pat Jones (pjjones@worldnet.att.net)
Thu, 7 May 1998 21:26:16 +0000

Dr.Menge is lead researcher on avocado and citrus projects in
Southern California using yard trimmings mulch to assess disease
suppression. The Integrated Waste Management Board is sponsoring
this research to help further evidence of benefits of compost and
mulches made from urban yard trimmings. Green material is collected
to meet the state recycling goal of cutting the waste stream in half
by 2000. A fact sheet and other information is available on the
CIWMB web site http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov

PJ

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Menge [SMTP:menge@ucr.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 1998 3:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: FW: (Fwd) Avocados and Phosphonic acid
>
> Dear Pat:
> Interesting message. Not too far from the truth. Only thing that
> I object to is the reference that there is anecdotal evidence that organic
> matter reduces disease. There is very hard data both here and in Australia.
> Sounds like a chemical salesman.
> John
>
> At 10:02 AM 4/21/98 -0700, you wrote:
> >FYI
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Jones, Patricia
> >> Sent: Monday, April 20, 1998 9:21 AM
> >> To: Paswater, Pat;
> >> Subject: FW: (Fwd) Avocados and Phosphonic acid
> >>
> >> I thought that Dr. Menge got his ideas to use mulch to suppress
> >> phytophthera cinnamomi, a root rot fungus, in Australia. Guess not
> >> everybody over there got the message.
> >> PJ
> >>
> >> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
> >> From: "Frits v/d Laan" <F.vd.Laan@inter.nl.net>
> >> To: sanet-mg@shasta.ces.ncsu.edu
> >> Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 16:22:23 +1
> >> Subject: Re: Avocados and Phosphonic acid
> >> Reply-to: F.vd.Laan@inter.nl.net
> >> Cc: Alenson.Chris.CJ@bhp.com.au
> >>
> >> Chris
> >> > Avocado growers in Australia have problems keeping their trees
> free of
> >> > phytophthera cinnamomi, a root rot fungus. Despite research
> (Baker & Cook) and anecdotal evidence that organic matter, compost, chook
> >> > litter, etc helps to provide a disease suppressive soil the risk
> of tree
> >> > death is very great without the use of Phosphonic (phosphorus
> acid ) which is injected into the trunk.
> >> >
> >> > Our organic growers use sound organic
> >> > management in every way to build healthy biologically active
> soils The
> >> > fact remains that the climatic conditions encourages the root rot
> >> fungus and growers either are faced with choices of either staying
> within the organic guidelines, or using the substance and selling their
> produce on the conventional market which they do not want to do.
> >> >
> >> > I know some would suggest that if the climatic conditions are
> >> conducive to the root rot then perhaps it indicates that the varieties
> should not be grown.
> >> > Look forward to any comments.
> >>
> >> I'm not a Avocado grower but you asked for 'any' comment.
> >> I do grow some plants sensitive to phytophtora but my soil is phyt.
> >> cinn. free. (Phyt. dies if it freezes but spores survive) I do grow
> >> about 100 different plants mostly in relatively small amounts so
> you can say my plants are heavely intercropped. This is what I want to
> say, this problem can be caused or fueled by monocropping. I still
> think the soil is not healthy if you have a problem this way and you
> should also study the possibilities of plants that either influence the
> soil or give shelter to bacteria or fungi that can attack the Phyt.
> Another option could be to graft the Avocados on a better rootstock.
> >>
> >>
> >> Frits v/d Laan
> >> Biologische boomkwekerij/
> >> Organic horticulture
> >> Gouda - Netherlands
> >> http://web.inter.nl.net/users/F.vd.Laan/
> >> f.vd.laan@inter.nl.net
> >>
> >> ------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
> >> From: "Alenson, Chris CJ" <Alenson.Chris.CJ@bhp.com.au>
> >> To: "'sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu'"
> >> <sanet-mg@shasta.ces.ncsu.edu>
> >> Subject: Avocados and Phosphonic acid
> >> Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1998 09:34:00 +1000
> >>
> >> Avocado growers in Australia have problems keeping their trees free
> of phytophthera cinnamomi, a root rot fungus. Despite research (Baker
> & Cook) and anecdotal evidence that organic matter, compost, chook
> >> litter, etc helps to provide a disease suppressive soil the risk of
> >> tree death is very great without the use of Phosphonic (phosphorus
> >> acid ) which is injected into the trunk.
> >>
> >> Unfortunately this product is not acceptable under Australian
> organic standards even though the product does not leave residues or
> threaten the environment in any way. Our organic growers use sound organic
> >> management in every way to build healthy biologically active soils.
> >> The fact remains that the climatic conditions encourages the root
> rot fungus and growers either are faced with choices of either staying
> >> within the organic guidelines, not using phosphonic acid and
> perhaps loosing their trees and their incomes or using the substance and
> >> selling their produce on the conventional market which they do not
> >> want to do.
> >>
> >> I know some would suggest that if the climatic conditions are
> >> conducive to the root rot then perhaps it indicates that the varieties
> >> should not be grown. Are there any growers of avocados out there that
> >> have experience in management of this fungus and how do they keep it
> >> at bay without compromising their organic status?
> >>
> >> Look forward to any comments.
> >>
> >> Chris Alenson
> >> Organic Advisory Service
> >> Organic Retailers & Growers Association of Australia
> >>
> >
> *****************************
> Dr. John Menge
> Department of Plant Pathology
> University of California, Riverside
> Phone # (909) 787-4130
> Fax # (909) 787-4132

Pat Jones
pjjones@worldnet.att.net

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