Influence of Management Practices on Severity of Stem and Crown Rot, Incidence of Asparagus Miner, and Yield of Asparagus Grown from Transplants. J. P. Damicone, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003. W. J. Manning, and D. N. Ferro. Department of Plant Pathology, and Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003. Plant Dis. 71:81-84. Accepted for publication 11 June 1986. Copyright 1987 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/PD-71-0081.

Asparagus and pest management practices were evaluated for 4 yr in field plots planted with seedling transplants using a split-split plot design. The effects of preplant soil fumigation with Vorlex and diazinon insecticide sprays were assessed. Use of open-pollinated (Mary Washington) or F₁ hybrid (Jersey Centennial) asparagus and simazine weed control were also tested. Severity of stem and crown rot and internal crown discoloration and incidence of and damage by asparagus miner were assessed in 1980. Yield was measured in 1982 and 1983 and plant survival was assessed in 1983. Insecticide sprays led to reduced stem and crown rot and internal crown discoloration and a lower number of mines of the asparagus miner (Ophiomyia simplex) per stem. Stem rot severity increased linearly (R = 0.695) with number of mines per stem. Fumigation and insecticide treatments significantly improved yield as weight of marketable spears (=8 mm in diameter) in 1982 and 1983. Cultivar Jersey Centennial produced significantly higher yield than cultivar Mary Washington in 1983. Insecticide, fumigant, and F₁ hybrid effects significantly improved plant survival after 4 yr. Simazine effects on yield were minimal in 1982, but the herbicide-treated plots had significantly lower yields in 1983. Asparagus stem and crown rot appears to be a stress-related syndrome, in part, because some management practices reduced disease development despite crown infections by Fusarium spp.