Effectiveness of solarization to control the main telluric fungal pathogens of Cucurbits

Two year experiments in the open field were carried to control the main telluric pathogens of cucurbit, i.e. Acremonium curbitacearum, Plectosporium tabacinum, Rhizopycnis vagum, Fusarium spp, by solarization using three plastic films, EVA, Polydak and Mater-B (bio-degradable films made of maize starch). In the years that followed the treatment, the residual effect or solarization by itself or combined with the use of Trichoderma viride was also evaluated. The fungal populations of the soil and on the roots of vegetable marrow and "carosello" (Citrullus lanatus) were monitored before and after solarization for several years. Whereas solarization with EVA and Polydak films reduced significatively disease incidence on vegetable marrow and "carosello" and in the following year, on melon and "carosello", solarization with Marer-B film increased disease gravity in all crops. In the year following the treatment a significant positive effect was observed when T. viride was added to solarized soil.