| A reliable and sensitive method utilizing enrichment followed by PCR was evaluated for detecting Ralstonia solanacearum in naturally infested Hawaiian field soil. This method was then used to approximate relative population levels of R. solanacearum in field soil. Three soil amendments; vermicompost, vermitea, and IMOlizer at high, mid, and low rates were evaluated for their ability to suppress R. solanacearum populations in soil. A 10 week pot study was conducted using naturally infested field soil collected from a ginger field, combined with the soil amendments. None of the amendments suppressed R. solanacearum populations over this time period. This enrichment-PCR methodology has also been used to detect R. solanacearum in potential ginger cropping areas, enabling farmers to avoid infested fields. |
