Sustainable Alternatives to Methyl Bromide in Romanian Horticulture
Abstract
Soilborne pathogens are very destructive in vegetable crops and one of the most limitingfactors to farmer`s income. Their management worldwide has been based on pre-plant soil fumigationwith methyl bromide, a compound whose phase-out procedure was initiated in the Montreal Protocol(1992) due to its hazardous effects on the environment.Since the adhesion to the Montreal Protocol,Romania government decided to phase out methyl bromide use beginning with 2005. During the lastseven years, the research was focused on investigating methyl bromide alternatives for controllingsoilborne pathogens, mainly in protected area vegetable crops. These substitutes have been based onusing other registered chemical compounds, and non-chemical methods (soil steaming, solarization,cultural practices, plant resistance). All the current methyl bromide substitutes and control measuresfor controlling soilborne pathogens in protected area vegetables crops have limitations, compared withmethyl bromide. The aim of this paper is to describe the current methyl bromide alternatives forcontrolling soilborne pathogens in Romania horticulture.
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