What was it all about?

This project set out to develop new soil disinfestation approaches using a combination of existing chemistries for the production of high-health strawberry runners in the absence of methyl bromide.

In looking at the technical and economic feasibility of soilless systems for the production of certified runners that avoid the need for soil fumigation, the research suggested these would increase the cost of transplants six-fold.

Hydroponic systems were also considered, and were shown to increase the efficiency of transplant production, though fruit yields from these transplants were highly variable across Australia.

No substitute fumigants to date have provided the same level of soil-borne pathogen control as the blend of methyl bromide and chloropicrin that was in use.