STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 1 of 17
Management Strategy for Phase-Out of Critical Uses of Methyl
Bromide
Submitted by Israel
I. General
1.1 The basic strategy of the long-term reduction of methyl bromide consumption in
Israel relies on a multi-disciplinary approach. This consists of the development of a
legal, environmental, agricultural research & extension, and an aware-raising and
training effort , linking together all relevant public and private bodies and
stakeholders.
1.2 The organizational structure of the methyl bromide phase-out program that brings
together all involved agencies is the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for Methyl
Bromide Phase-Out chaired by the Chief Scientists of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment. This body deals with long-term
strategy and policy. The day-to-day work, namely the implementation of the field
program, and recommendations for critical uses are handled by public research and
extension. The allocation of methyl bromide sanctioned for critical uses is done
through the regional offices of the Ministry of Agriculture and rural Development
under the supervision of the Plant protection and Inspection Services. The adoption
process of methyl bromide alternatives is monitored by the Ministry's Agricultural
Extension Service. This monitoring system sees to it that allocated methyl bromide
will be applied specifically only on the approved crops and cropping systems.
Conceptually, the steering committee underlines the development of sustainable nonchemical methyl bromide alternatives and their incorporation into Integrated Pest
Management schemes and the reduction of the deleterious effects of chemical
alternatives.
1.3 All methyl bromide chemical alternatives are subject to the registration scheme of
all pesticides of the country. In this context, the registration entails the presentation of
a dual crop/pest biological and toxicological evidence. To this end the average
registration procedure requires 3 years.
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 2 of 17
II. Structural problems of Israel agriculture bearing on full-scale methyl
bromide substitution
2.1. Most methyl bromide consuming crops especially the vegetable and flower crops
are grown on small family farms. The growers tend to narrowly specialize on the
more profitable crops and often monoculture type of cultivation is adopted. Even
under conditions of reasonable sanitation, this leads to severe infestation with soilborne pathogens, nematodes and weeds.
2. 2. The core area for the cultivation of several methyl bromide consuming crops is a
densely populated one, in the central coast area of Israel, afflicted with environmental
problems and subsequent "buffer zones" which could hardly be met by the registered
methyl bromide alternatives. This is the case of strawberry, flowers and potato
intensively cultivated in the Sharon region of Israel and of the Ghaza strip.
2.3. The flower industry with the exception of a few species such as roses and
carnation anticipates improved marketing opportunities on the global marketplace.
This results in an expansion of the cultivated area and in an intensified introduction
effort of new flower species and in a move of growers from vegetable cropping to
flowers. It is not easy to resolve within a short period of time all pest control problems
of a wide array of newly introduced crops. Further, this trend creates an environment
in which flowers are being planted in plots in which vegetables were grown for many
years and are infested with perennial weeds, root-knot nematodes and non-specific
fungal pathogens such as Verticillium dahliae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.
III. Specific technical barriers
3.1. Nutsedge. No pre-emergence weed killers for the control of nutsedge are
registered for indoor crops. The only available registered weed killers for this purpose
are contact herbicides and their effect as such is not comparable to the efficacy of
MB. No technical breakthrough is anticipated in the foreseeable future.
3. 2. Broomrape. The parasitic weed has infested large regions in the northern part of
the country jeopardizing the whole processing tomato industry, compelling growers to
cultivate wheat or other low-income field crops. A long-term state-wide project
intends to use methyl bromide in order to reduce the regional "seed bank" of
broomrape in the affected areas.
3.3. Ghaza Strip. A joint Israel-Palestinian project for the replacement of MB has
been carried out in the 2005 season. The selected crops are vegetables and carnation.
In the work's first season MB and chemical MB alternatives have been tried out and
their field performance was jointly monitored. The application of reduced rates of
these tested chemicals with the aid of VIF sheets is planned for the 2006 season. In
light of the political situation prevailing currently in the Ghaza area, periodical field
reports have not been received. It is questionable whether the agreed joint program
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 3 of 17
could be fully carried out. Subsequently, no significant progress in the reduction of
methyl bromide consumption of the area could be expected.
3.4. Methyl bromide mixtures. Chloropicrin alone is not registered in the country. As
for MB:chloropicrin mixtures, the 67:33 mixture is registered but used only as shankinjected application before outdoor crops. Most MB applications on indoor flower
and vegetable crops are hot gas applications. They are the only ones applied in the
Ghaza area. The 50:50 mixture is not registered in the country and the manufacturer
has no incentive to do so or to embark on the production of any other mixture ratios.
Under these circumstances, methyl bromide mixtures do not seem to be efficacious
rate reduction tools
3.5. Appearance of new and resistant soil-borne pathogens as a result of the
application of methyl bromide alternatives. Several cases in which secondary
pathogens turned into major ones were recently recorded after several years of the
application of chemical methyl bromide alternatives. To quote a few cases which
caused economic crop losses are the reappearance of Pyrenochaeta terrestris on
tomato, a soil-borne pathogen which disappeared practically with the utilization of
methyl bromide, the severe infestation caused by broomrape (Orobanche spp.) on
processing tomato and field crops in the northern part of the country. Further,
Macrophomina and Anthacnose appeared on strawberry dissuading growers from the
future adoption of chemical MB alternatives, wherever applicable, in light of buffer
zone restrictions. Two new soil-borne pathogens appeared in crops which were not
submitted for CUN in the past: V. dahliae strain 2 on indoor tomato and Fusarium
crown rot on indoor cucumber. These cases indicate the possible weaknesses of
cropping systems relying on chemical MB alternatives, resistant cultivars or grafted
seedlings and the need for MB as a contingency application whenever a highly potent
biocide is essential for eradication purposes and the future prevention of large-scale
application of environment-hostile chemicals.
IV. Crop-wise evaluation
The following crops and problem areas have been submitted as Critical Use
Nominations for 2007: spring melon in the Arava Valley, potato in the Sharon zone,
strawberry for nurseries and fruit production, eradication of V. dahliae on tomato,
cucumber affected by Fusarium crown rot, indoor and outdoor flowers, state-wide
broomrape control program, deciduous fruit tree nurseries. The hardest nuts to crack
in this context are the flower crops, strawberry and melon branches in which the
methyl bromide reduction potential is limited under the prevailing cropping
conditions. In these crops, MB phase-out might disrupt their cultivation
opportunities. In the other crops and problem areas to be detailed as follows, the
prospects of methyl bromide substitution are more promising.
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 4 of 17
4.1. Protected and Outdoor Flowers
General.
4.1.1.The development rationale of the flower industry relies on an aggressive
introduction of new and exotic species and varieties. Only in such a way could the
country maintain its competitive edge on the export marketplace presenting every
year novel species and varieties. The flower industry participated in the first phase of
the "model farms" program ran in the late 90s and early 2000. As an outcome of this
effort MB alternatives have been registered for the major flower crops. However,
since more than 60 flower species are being grown, new schemes are promoted to
replace MB over the remaining 50 minor crops.
4.1.2. In light of the crisis situation in which the rose industry is found over the last
years, and the fact that substrates are fumigated in an average once in 3 years, the rose
industry did not invest R&D efforts in the screening for chemical MB alternatives and
VIF. However, the rose industry promotes massive utilization of miniplants which
are produced on substrates in nurseries and planted only into new or MB-fumigated
substrates. These seedlings are more susceptible to soil-borne pathogens than
conventional seedlings and they might be badly affected by Meloidogyne hapla,
Pratylenchus vulnus, Pythium spp., Agrobacter tumefaciens, Cylindrocladium,
Fusaria, Verticillia when planted in old substrates. Miniplants were successfully
adopted by the rose growers and already 80% of the currently used propagation
material consists of miniplants. It is anticipated that within the next couple of years
100% of the industry will use miniplants. The tendency is to apply VIF sheets in the
future and reduce the actually applied rate of MB to 25 g/sq.m. The fact that cropping
is done in soil-less culture of reduced root volume facilitates this transition.
4.1.3. Nutsedge is a major problem on outdoor flowers. Certain areas such as the Hula
Valley are badly infested. On outdoor nurseries of geophytes the routine is to
cultivate after a wheat crop or identify nutsedge-free plots. No pre-emergence
herbicides for nutsedge control are registered for outdoor flower crops which are still
dependent on MB for this purpose.
4.1.4.Substitution strategy. The following are the three main technical objectives
and activities already launched in order to promote alternatives for outdoor cutflower
production:
- soil solarization
- crop rotation
- soil preparation for weed control
4.1.5.Solarization is fully recommended these days on Ranunculus and Anemone. On
Anemone the recommendation consists of solarization in combination with a reduced
rate of MB (25 g/m). In the future, solarization will be expanded to crops which are
not affected by root-knot nematodes such as Lilly. Solarization will be applied as a
stand alone or fortified with metam sodium. On the other hand for crops affected by
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 5 of 17
root-knot nematodes such as crucifers, Waxflower, Hypericum, Proteaceae (Gravillea,
Leptospermum) solarization cannot give a full anwer but with the addition of a
nematicide. In case of slight weed populations, metam sodium is added to
solarization. Eromorus is going to be solarized and the crop rotated or treated with
solarization combined with metam sodium. Hipeastrum is going to be solarized
combined with reduced rates of MB. The same is true for Aconitum. For
Ornithogallum dubium the strategy foresees dried soil to prevent Erwinia infection in
combination with MB. The same is true for Curcuma affected by bacterial blight. For
gladioli the R&D avenue foresees crop rotation and the application of weed killers.
Further, propagation material is dipped in fungicide for external treatment.
4.1.6. For newly introduced indoor crops or crops grown on small areas, a "minor
registration scheme of pesticides has been recently introduced. crops"
This scheme emulates the registration specifications of two associated major crops as
far as pest control efficacy is concerned. Hence only specific phytotoxicity tests are
required of the minor crop. The model farms program for the screening of MB
alternatives promoted the registration of MB alternatives on the major flower crops
such as: Telon (“Condor”) for Solidago, Gerbera, Carnation, Lisianthus, Trachelium,
Aconitum. Metam Sodium for Gypsophyla, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gladioli,
Statice, Aconitum and Liatris.
4.1.7.For all new and minor crops, the prospective normative pattern of methyl
bromide substitution foresees the combined application of metam sodium and telon.
4.1.8. Tthe screening of two new non-chemical pest control implements: "Kaltiv" a
tool that heats the soil and a flamethrower that heats soil and plant residues with open
fire.
4.1.9.On nurseries of Narcissus, Ranunculus crop rotation is the recommendable
solution.
4.2. Strawberry (Nurseries and Fruit Production)
General.
4.2.1. Use of MB for strawberry nurseries is strongly requested by customers but is
not mandatory. In light of the high costs of fruit production, growers insist on the
purchase of pathogen-free (of fungal pathogens, nematodes and weeds) propagation
material for the sake of good sanitation practices. At this point in time, the requested
level of clean material could be assured only by methyl bromide applications.
4.2.2. In light of the above, the efficacy of MB alternatives was demonstrated only in
strawberry for fruit. The large scale adoption of MB alternatives is impeded mainly by
environmental conditions. Strawberry is being grown in both the Sharon and Ghaza
areas in densely populated communities and with few exceptions MB alternatives
cannot cope with the required buffer zone limitations. However, over the last couple
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 6 of 17
of years, new problems of technical matter appeared and, unfortunately, they
jeopardize the further adoption of MB alternatives on strawberry:
- nurseries in which lower rates of MB under VIF plastic sheets
were applied were affected by Macrophomina phaseolina in several villages such as
Kadima, Porat and Kalansuwa. One of these nurseries was affected by both
Macrophomina and Phytophthora cactorum. Over the last years (2004,5,6) fifteen
such fields were found to be infested with Macrophomina and one of them with
Anthracnose;
-it is unclear to date whether Macrophomina infection stems from nurseries or
from the fields. It is known that the fungus could persist in the soil for several years
due to the production of resting bodies (microsclerotia). Therefore solarization is not
effective for its control. Cucurbits are also affected by the same fungus and from them
there is evidence that MB controls it effectively. Carbendazim was tested out for the
dipping of seedlings, for soil drench under drip- and overhead irrigation.
Carbendazim is not registered in strawberry;
- the fields of two large fruit growers in Givat Hen and Gan Haim, who
pioneered the adoption of MB alternatives by using Telopic, were affected by
economic losses inflicted by Macrophomina and both of them are reluctant to rely on
MB alternatives in the future;
4.2.3. In the densely populated Ghaza area, Telopic is not used since it requires
mechanical injection. No tools, contractors and adequate conditions are available in
the area. The concept of buffer zones for Telopic is irrelevant for the area. The same
is true for the Israeli Arab growers living in the eastern Sharon. The Jewish growers
of the Sharon cultivate strawberry in the proximity of the residential areas of their
villages.
4.2.4. No mechanical injection was used in the past in the Ghaza area. Since the
strawberry plots are small of 0.02-0. 5 ha, growers use hot gas application. In lack of
suitable tools or contractors for mechanical injection in the area, the adoption of this
technology is not anticipated.
.
4.2.5. "Herut" is the only commercial variety resistant to Anthracnose. It covers 10%
of the cropping area. Its expansion is anticipated but it will not replace the major
commercial varieties. "Hadas" is the main variety covering 30% of the cultivated area.
It is susceptible to both Macrophomina and Anthracnose.
4.2.6.Substitution strategy. The leading strategy formulated several years ago,
namely that of cultivating strawberry in soilless conditions suffered a severe
drawback because of the technology's low cost-efficiency. More specifically, out of 4
growers who used to produce strawberry for fruit in hanged pots in the village of
Ahituv, only two are still holding on to this technology. The systems' technical
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 7 of 17
problem is the heavy infestation with powdery mildew and high amounts of distorted
fruit. The latter is caused by poor pollination. Pollinating bees are affected by the
sprays that control powdery mildew. The same is true for predatory mites affected by
liquid sulfur compounds applied for the control of the disease. Powdery mildew
proliferates due to low air humidity prevalent in hanged pots. On the other hand, low
moisture contains the development of the grey mould disease of strawberry. The two
remaining growers in the village will go on with this production system but new ones
will not join. All in all seven growers in Israel and none in the Ghaza strip produce
fruit strawberry in soilless culture on area of 5 ha out of a total production area of 400
ha. Prospects of expansion are nil in light of the very high production costs of soilless
culture vs. production in soil. Briefly, strawberry grown in soil produces 70 t/ha while
the costs per ha come up to US$105,000. Under soilless conditions, yields reach 90
t/ha while the production costs US$ 153,000/ha.
4.2.7.Reliance on chemical MB alternatives is impeded by environmental conditions
and the prevailing buffer zones. However, nurseries and fruit crop production will be
disaggregated and the performance of MB alternatives on nurseries is about to be
investigated.
4.2.8.Further promotion of resistant varieties, of healthy propagation material and the
local application of fungicides for the control of soil-borne pathogens turns to be the
backbone of the MB substitution strategy in light of the low performance of the
conventional chemical alternatives that failed in the control of new pathogens such as
Macrophomina and Anthracnose.
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 8 of 17
4.3. Spring Potato in the Sharon region
4.3.1.General.
The light soils of the Sharon region could be cultivated all year round and
provide a particular edge to both spring and fall potatoes. Both crops are
meant for fresh consumption and are exported to the European marketplace.
The small cultivable area of the Sharon and its traditional intensive cropping
pattern of groundnuts and potato grown both in the same year, brought about
a gradual infestation of the area with a series of fungal and bacterial
pathogens, nematodes, parasitic and perennial weeds some of them common
to the two predominant crops: Rhizoctonia solani, Verticillium dahliae, root
knot nematodes, mainly Meloidogyne javanica, common scab- Streptomyces
scabies, deep scab- Streptomyces spp., powdery scab- Spongospora
subterranea, Orobanche spp. (Broomrape) and nutsedge. The tight rotation,
the heavy infestation with these pathogens and the high income of the early
potato and groundnut crops exported to Europe brought about the adoption of
methyl bromide (MB) in this non-MB consuming crop almost thirty years
ago. The usual potato yields attained in the region are around 50-60 tons/ha.
Annual MB application increases the yields by 5-10 tons/ha and increase the
quality of marketable yield.
4.3.2.Many growers cultivating on land which is not in the proximity of
residential areas adopted injection with Telopic (a Telone/Chloropicrin
mixture) covered with VIF. Telopic is relatively effective for the control of
powdery scab Spongospora subterranea but its performance is lower than that
of MB. Still, the latter’s levels of use in the area are on a promising rise year
after year;
4.3.3.Additional growers embarked on the experimental injection of
formaldehyde and Metam Sodium (MS). The mixture enables the reduction of
MS from 600 l/ha to 400 l/ha and is effective for the control of scab diseases,
fungal pathogens such as Pythium sp., and it alleviates the accelerated
degradation problem of MS. Three injection machines are under semicommercial development and extensive field trials are carried out nowadays in
the area;
4.3.4.Potato is being grown in the country on a total area of 15000 ha. The
major cropping site being the Negev in the southern part of the country where
MB is fully phased-out. There the inoculum levels of soil-borne pathogens is
lower than in the Sharon, crop rotation in this large area is easily sustained
and the main pests are bacterial pathogens which are controlled with
formaldehyde and formaldehyde-MS mixtures;
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 9 of 17
4.3.5.Although MB is not in world-wide use as a soil fumigant for potato, the
particular conditions of the Sharon create a niche situation. This is created and
aggravated by the high inoculum levels of the soil-borne pathogens and the
rapid urbanization process of the area. In this context, buffer zones reduce the
applicability of Telon (100m), Chloropicrin-based compounds (250m) and
formaldehyde (1000 m) in the area.
4.3.6.After intensive promotion of MB chemical alternatives and VIF over the last
couple of years, only 15% of the total area of 3000 ha of spring potato require MB.
This is still essential due to buffer zones that limit the use of Telone, Chloropicrin
and formaldehyde on plots found in the proximity of residential areas.
4.3.7.Substitution strategy
Since no MB alternatives with the exception of Telopic seem to be feasible for
the particular conditions of the heavily-infested plots of the Sharon within the
short-term range, the major effort will be channeled to the emission and rate
reduction of MB through the promotion of VIF. The promotion of Telopic
results in the reduction of the MB-fumigated area from 25% in 2005 to 15%
in 2007. Further, VIF-tarped fumigation will be applied on 100% of the treated
area by 2007 due to a massive extension-advisory effort.
In the long run, technologies developed in the Negev will be transferred to the Sharon
for their in-situ observation. The next technical breakthrough in this context is the
development of several injection machines for MS and formaldehyde which would
enable the promotion of these two MB alternatives to cope with the environmental
constraints of this densely populated area.
4.4 Spring Melon in the Arava Valley
4.4.1.General
The technical progress achieved over the last couple of years in the area of reducing the
soil-borne pests of spring melons in the Arava Valley consists of four main components:
-In addition to the already registered Basamid, MS and Telopic, after years of
experimental work in the area, a MS-formaldehyde mixture has been also added to the
listing of registered chemical alternatives for the control of sudden wilt of fall melons
in the Arava Valley. However, the soil temperatures prevailing prior to the spring
planting season are still limiting the applicability of the mixture in this season. MS
requires a waiting period of 3 weeks, just unrealizable between the fall and spring
melon seasons of the Arava. Over the last two years, the adoption rate of these
registered alternatives advanced from 50% to 100% and in practice all fall melon
growers in the area are using them successfully.
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 10 of 17
-The promotion of VIF on spring melon in the Arava Valley became an extension
service priority and it is being applied after two years of massive persuasion on 80%
of the acreage!
-Much progress has been achieved with the testing of grafted seedlings of melon. The
physiological incompatibility problems affecting the Galia type of melons, especially
when staked, are well-known while the Cantaloupe (“Charentais” var.) type grown flat
is prone for grafting. The entire spring crop of the area consists of the more lucrative
staked Galia type, well-adjusted to this particular cropping cycle and to the
marketplace’s requirements.
-Reduction of the inoculum pressure of soil-borne pathogens with the kill-off of
harvested plants at crop-end with low rates of MS creates an easier environment for
the next crop. It is, however, a partial solution for spring melons being impeded by the
short plantback gap between the removal of fall melons in mid-January and the
planting in early February of the spring melon crop of the Arava Valley. It could be
useful only when the two melon crops are not successive.
4.4.2.Substitution Strategy
4.4.3.The first strategy is to reduce the amount of MB by promoting the utilization of VIFtarped applications. Following a massive extension campaign, 100% of the spring melon
will be fumigated with MB under VIF. Ministry of Agricuture’s Chief Scientist appointed
a task force with the mandate of developing short- and long-term tools for the further
promotion of MB alternatives on spring melon in the Arava with focus on the promotion
of grafted melon seedlings.
4.4.3. Second, at the short-term level, Dr. Gamliel’s team is tackling the problem along 5
different ways: applying low concentrations of MS to kill off the fall melons and reduce
Monosporascus inoculum, improving solarization with new plastic sheets, evaluating the
performance of mixtures of MB alternatives, investigating the accelerated degradation of
MS, investigating irrigation with various water qualities and their impact on the
development of sudden wilt of melon. Out of these investigations, the application of low
rates of MS at the end the fall crop to kill off roots and Monosporascus resting structures
is becoming a routine practice. The method is effective only when the infestation levels on
the roots of the fall crop don’t exceed 20%.
4.4.4.At the medium-term level, the technology that is expected to replace MB on
spring melons of the Arava is that of grafted seedlings. Research and
development focuses on the field management of grafted seedlings.
4.5. Deciduous Fruit Tree Nurseries
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 11 of 17
General.
4.5.1. By the year 2006 sixty percent of the industry adopted the potted seedlings
technology. At this point in time, the deciduous fruit industry is saturated and no
significant expansion is anticipated. This trend of stagnancy is felt with the exception
of almonds which are planted only in potted seedlings at an annual rate of 400 ha.
Since the common 677 rootstock is susceptible to nematodes, spotted seedlings reduce
lesions caused to the root systems at uplifting. Thus, the adoption rate of spotted
seedlings could reach 65% by 2007.
4.5.2.Substitution strategy. The tendency to get away from field nurseries in which
seedlings are planted directly into the soil, was considerably enhanced. Disposable
inert substrates which are used only once, do not require any fumigation.
Consequently, the area expected to be methyl bromide fumigated is down to 30 ha in
2007 and no additional CUN is expected to be submitted.
4.6. Indoor cucumber
4.6.1.General
The basic newly arised problem is the strengthening over the last three years of
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis cucumerinum which acts as both a soil- and
airborne pathogen and it is best controlled with MB in comparison to its alternatives.
The pathogen is highly virulent and it could devastate entire greenhouses in a short
period of time. The pathogen is present over the whole country but its presence in the
village of Achituv is severely felt. Telon (Condor), a nematicide, is limited to a
buffer zone of 100 m while Telodrip, registered only for the control of Pythium on
cucumber, is limited by a 250 m buffer zone. This puts 100 ha of the totally grown
area of 350 ha, soil-fumigated twice a year (once with MB alternatives and once with
MB before the spring crop) under a situation in which these two MB alternatives are
not applicable. Basamid, registered for cucumber cannot be safely used in the winter
season due to the low temperatures prevailing at that time;
4.6.2.Substitution strategy
The renewed dependency on MB for indoor cucumber represents a niche problem.
It is tackled in several ways:
-The screening and fine-tuning of MB alternatives for the early spring
transplanting (fumigations carried out in December and January, transplanting in
March) of cucumber, at the time soil temperatures are too low for their safe
application, is underway;
-Cucumber grafted on squash is not root-knot nematodes-tolerant . The
technology in cucumbers is in its infancy and the costs of grafted seedlings are
a limiting factor at this point in time. It is anticipated that it would render
commercial results within 3 years.
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 12 of 17
-An extension-advisory effort to promote sanitation on an area-wide basis;
4.7. Indoor tomato
4.7.1.General
The appearance of V. dahliae strain 2 created a niche problem. No sources of
resistance or rootstock resistant to V. dahliae race 2 are known in the world. An
eradication effort should rely, thus, on chemical tools. The best available soil
fumigant for this purpose, based on the experience gathered with the control of V.
dahliae race 1 on tomato in this country is MB. The application of chemical MB
alternatives which might provide lower control rates than 100% might miss the very
point of eradication and allow the establishment of the new pathogen in the country.
4.7.2.The new menace appeared 3 years ago in one particular plot and it was
identified by Prof. J. Katan as V. dahliae race 2. Ten greenhouses were found as
being affected by the new pathogen in 2005. The geographical distribution of the
affected greenhouses is very wide. They could be found in the western Negev, in the
Jordan Valley and in the Arab villages of the central coast area. The total affected
area covers 50 ha. V. dahliae race 2 affects tomato which is the only species in which
sources of resistance to race 1 are available. In light of the known crop loss potential
of Verticillium on indoor tomato, an eradication effort could prevent the
establishment of the new race in the country. This concentrated effort could reduce
the future use of a much larger amount of soil fumigants. To this end only the most
effective soil fumigant should be used. For eradication purposes the high rate of 750
kg/ha of MB is recommended. The rate is based on previous recommendations and
experience gathered with the control of race 1 at the time VIF was not known (1960s
and 70s).
4.7.3.Hopefully the eradication effort will render positive results and the crop will not
require any further MB applications.
4.8. Broomrape
4.8.1.General
Broomrape infestation is presently being aggravated by the phase out of methyl
bromide. All crop-specific registered MB alternatives have a narrower range of
activity and lower crop-specific efficacy than MB. They do not prevent area-wide
infestation with the parasitic weed. The same is true for agrotechnical means and
long-term fallow cropping which neither in practice nor in economic terms could
cope with the long-term vitality of broomrape seeds and their gradual germination
mechanism. It is recommended, to this end, to cultivate processing tomato once in
5 years on the same plots. However, at the 3rd year of such a rotation scheme,
cropping of processing tomato yields non-economic returns.
The present project is a 5-year program. It intends to apply MB for several
purposes: area-wide rehabilitation, the eradication of broomrape seed bank to
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 13 of 17
minimal and manageable levels which should reduce infection to minimum, and
consequently reduce the risk of the development of new races of the parasite that
may successfully attack resistant crops. MB will be used only once in each of the
designated areas. The reduction of broomrape inoculum levels should enable the
application of chemical control agents of lower efficacy which could cope with
mild broomrape populations following the application of MB.
4.8.2.Substitution strategy
Two main avenues are addressed by research and extension in Israel in this
context: breeding of processing tomato cultivars and the development of
sulfonylurea herbicides. These are the most rapid methods to promise practical
results. The project’s R&D addresses the development of these solutions. The
awareness raising branch of the project focuses on the training of growers and
their regional institutions to maintain a sanitation program that will prevent the
build-up of new broomrape populations in the MB-treated, rehabilitated areas. The
regional inoculum reduction project spans over a 6-year period covering annually
1000 ha.
August 2006
D:\106741900.doc
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 14 of 17
Table 1.
Methyl bromide reduction trends-summery
Critical uses in
2007
Broomrape
Indoor
cucumber
Indoor tomatoe
Cut flowersopen fields
Major crops
Minor crops
Alternatives Under Development
Possible Date
of Adoption
Combinations of different herbicides such as glyphosate,
bromacyl with metham sodium
____________________________________
National 6 years project to reduce inoculum (seed bank)
region by region
2009
Basamid
Chloropicrin+telone
Eradication program (Fusarium crown rot)
Eradication program (Verticilium dahliae race 2)
2008
2008
2008
2008
Combinations of solarization with nematocides,
herbicides, fungicides
Combinations of solarization with reduced rates of MB
Reduced rates of Telone in combination with MS (after
season "kill off" of harvested plants for sanitation
purposes)
______________________________________________
Crop rotation
Kaltiv
Flame thrower
After season sanitation with MS
2010
Combinations of Telone with MS
Minor crop registration project for fungicides and
nematocides
2010
2009
Miniplants
Soil less cultures
______________________________________________
Combinations of Telone with MS
Telodrip
______________________________________________
Combination of Telone with MS
Minor crop registration project for fungicides and
nematocides
New agrotechniquedetached media
2008
2007
2012
2010
2010
2010
Cut flowersprotected
Roses
Major crops
Minor crops
Fruit nurseries
D:\106741900.doc
2010
2011
2010
2009
2007
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 15 of 17
Melons
Potatoes
Strawberry
Fruit - Israel
___________
Strawberry
Fruit - Gaza
Strawberrynurseries
Combinations of metham sodium with formaldehyde
2009
Grafting ("Galia" type scion on cucurbit rootstocks)
Improvement of solarization
After season sanitation with MS
2009
2009
2010
VIF promotion over 100% of cropped area
Development of new shank application tools for Telopic ,
MS, formaldehyde to overcome the buffer zones problems
Telodrid
Telopic
Metham sodium-change in application technique
Promotion of solarization combined with fungicides and
nematocides
Resistant varieties to antracnoze
VIF promotion
______________________________________________
International project for implementation of reduced
dosage and screening of alternatives and VIF
2009
Deeping seedlings in Carbendazim
Combinations of reduced MB with different nematocides
and fungicides
2009
2009
D:\106741900.doc
2010
2010
2009
2008
2010
2008
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 16 of 17
Table 2.
Methyl bromide use reduction
4000
3500
3000
2000
1500
1000
500
0
2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991
Year
D:\106741900.doc
Ton
2500
STATE OF ISRAEL
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Plant Protection and Inspection Services
P.O. Box 78, Bet-Dagan 50250, Israel Tel: 972-3-9681561 Fax: 972-3-9681561
WWW.PPIS.MOAG.GOV.IL
Page 17 of 17
Table 3. Registration of alternatives
CUN/
Chemical
Telodrip Telopic Metham Condor Telone
sodium
Cucumber
+
+
+
Tomato
+
+
+
Cut flowers-
+
+
open fields
Cut flowers-
+
in doors
Melons
+
Potatoes
+
Strawberries
+
D:\106741900.doc
+