An estimate of the eggs or larvae/g of soil. The Agricultural Development and
Advisory Service in Britain have given a figure of 20-40 eggs/g as being dangerous depending on soil type. M. incgnita populations are more difficult to estmate particularly for pre-planting purposes because the eggs are laid in an egg sac which becomes free in the soil, and the ppulation can only be sampled when the larvae have hatched. Indica! or plants can be used to estmate the ppulation but it is a lengthy and time consuming process. The galling ndex on roots after harvesting the previous crop is the best guide but usually the ppulation will have reached severely damaging levis before the grower becomes aware of the problem: this happens because cluring the build-up period of an infestation, external symptorns such as wilting are not evident in crops wbere aclequate water is continuously applied. Cucumbers are attacked also by M. incgnita, on which crop it produces very largo root galls, but root-knot nematodes are relatively minor pests compared with red spider, and fungal diseases, e.g. black root (Phomopsis) and mildew. B. Control of Nematodes in Soil Hussey et al. (1969) gave a detailed account of the methods used for controlling cyst and root-knot nematodes in glasshouses. In the soil environment fungi are more difficult to control than nematodes and it is common practice to apply sterilization techniques which control the fungi and the nematodes at the same time. Steam sterilization is still rgarded as one of the best methods of controlling both fungi ancl nematodes but it is becoming increasingly expensive because of the labour cost of moving pipes ancl sheets in the glasshouse, but in contrast with most chemical treatments it lea.ves no phytotoxic residuos. Annual steaming cloes enable the growth of economa crops but the cost per hectare of oontract steaming in Britain (2000) is becoming prohibitive. Steam -air treatments may prove to be superior to the more conventional steaming techniques. Liquid halogenated hydrocarbon fumigants such as DD (dichloro-propane-clichloropropene) at 450 kg/ha and EDB (ethyne dibromide) at 225 kg/ha effectively control both root-knot and cyst eelworms, but only in the absence of root rotting fungi. Methyl isothiocyanate (Trapex) is a fungicide/nematicide and is preferable if both types of pathogen are present. These three chemicals are injected into soil which should be well cultivated before injection and thenproperly sealed after treatment, Under glasshouse conclitions treatment may be clone by hancl-injeetor because pipes and purloins interfere with the used of motorized injectors. However, in modern glasshouses mechanical injection is the rule.
17. FLOWER BULBS, GLASSHOUSE CROPS AND OKNAMKNT.fi,
Two other chemicals used for treatment of glasshouse soiis libera methyl isothiocyanate after hydrolysis in soil. Vapam (metham-sodium suppied as 32-35% solution is best applied as a soil clrench at 120 ml/m2 by diluting the concntrate to about 1 in 100 or 200. Dazomet (or mylone) is a powder formulation usually applied at 450 kg/ha and rotovated into the soil. Recently a dust-free formulation (prill) has been. put on the market. Dazomet will only clecompose to methyl isothiocyanate in the presence of moisture, and dry soils must therefore be waterecl after application. All these chemicals must be applied several weeks before planting and the timing.depends on factors such as tem-perature, moisture content of soil, soil porosity, etc. There have been several instances of phytotoxicity with vapam applied at low tempera-tures, and tomatoes are sometimos tainted in DD treated soil. In recent years in western Europe methyl bromide has been replacing other methods of sterilization, mainly because planting can foliow very soon after treatment, The nematicidal properties of methyl bromide were mvestigated by Newhall (1947) and the chemical has been exten-sively used in the U.S.A. to control root-knot eelworm on tomatoes grown outdoors. Its fungicidal properties were thought to be poor but recent experiments (Galley and Hage. 1967) have shown that exposures of soil for 4 days or longer will give good control of the brown root rot ancl of H . rostochiensis on tomatoes. At normal temperaturas methyl bromide (BP 4C) is a volatile gas which is applied under eievated plstic sheets, the edges of which are buried in soil.. It penetrates the soil by clownward diffusion. Methyl bromide is applied in three ways: 1. Using 1 Ib canlsters which are pierced under the sheet after being placed at the necessary intervals to give the required dose. 2. By vaporization from a cylinder using a dosimeter (Hague et a l , 1964), the gas being discharged through a "T" piece for distribution over the treated rea. 3. By mechanical injection, the polythene sheet being laid down by the machine immediately after treatment. Although a satisfactory and efficient method for use, outdoors in the U.S.A., this method has been found dangerous in glasshouses in western Europe ancl has not obtained official approval. The second" method is the safest.as the application can be, done from outside the glasshouse and distribution is much quicker ancl more efficient than by the omster method. The general ly accepted dosago is 50-100 g/m2 of methyl bromide. Although 24-48 h exposure is sufficent to kill tie nematodes, at least 4'days is preferred in order to rid the soil of both fungal and nematocle problems. In glasshouses the operatng