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Soilborne pathogens are very destructive in vegetable crops and one of the most limiting factors to farmer's income. Their management worldwide has been based on pre-plant soil fumigation with methyl bromide, a compound whose phase-out procedure was initiated in the Montreal Protocol (1992) due to its hazardous effects on the environment. Since the adhesion to the Montreal Protocol, Romania government decided to phase out methyl bromide use beginning with 2005. During the last seven years, the research was focused on investigating methyl bromide alternatives for controlling soilborne pathogens, mainly in protected area vegetable crops. These substitutes have been based on using other registered chemical compounds, and non-chemical methods (soil steaming, solarization, cultural practices, plant resistance). All the current methyl bromide substitutes and control measures for controlling soilborne pathogens in protected area vegetables crops have limitations, compared with methyl bromide. The aim of this paper is to describe the current methyl bromide alternatives for controlling soilborne pathogens in Romania horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania tomatoes represent the most important crops in greenhouses, generally adopting a continuous monoculture. Since crop rotation is rarely adopted, the reduction of yield, both in quantity and quality, progressively affects the crops. Investigations in Horting Institute showed that after 4 years of continuous tomato monoculture a yield reduction up to 48% occurred,thus making necessary the adoption of soil disinfestations practices or, other methods. The treatment of soil with methyl bromide was used only by large commercial farmers (107.72 tons methyl bromide in 2003). Since the adhesion to the Montreal Protocol, Romania government decided to phase out methyl bromide use starting 2005. Results of the demonstrative plots (MAKIS-project) obtained in 2008 - 2010 indicated for the Romanian conditions, the following methyl bromide alternatives were suitable for soil disinfestations: metham sodium (chemicals methods), and grafting tomatoes (non-chemical method). Grafting tomatoes cultivars with high quality and productivity on rootstocks that are resistant to the soil pests and diseases is a method known for years ago, but which was improved and quickly spread in the last years. The main result of the grafting process is the increase of the resistance against soil diseases and pests, respectively the quality of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Romania, the watermelons represent one of the most popular crop. The watermelons crop is particularly sensitive to the attack by soil diseases and nematodes. Since crop rotation is rarely adopted, the reduction of yield, both in quantity and quality, progressively affects the crops, thus making necessary the adoption of soil disinfestations practices or, other methods. The treatment of soil with methyl bromide was used only by large commercial farmers (107.72 tons methyl bromide in 2003). Since the adhesion to the Montreal Protocol, Romania government decided to phase out methyl bromide use starting 2005. Results of the demonstrative plots (MAKIS-project) obtained in 2009 indicated for the Romanian conditions, the following methyl bromide alternatives were suitable for soil disinfestation: metham sodium (chemicals methods), and grafting watermelons (non-chemical method). Grafting watermelons cultivars with high quality and productivity on rootstocks that are resistant to the soil pests and diseases is a method known for years ago, but which was improved and quickly spread in the last years. The main result of the grafting process is the increase of the resistance against soil diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomatoes have highest share in Romanian crops from protected spaces (greenhouses, solariums). The grafting is an agronomical technique that induces or improves some qualities of the tomato cultivars (resistance to soil diseases and pests, resistance to abiotic factors, quantity and quality of fruit production). The research was aimed the establishing of the technological stages for producing of scion and rootstock seedlings from L. esculentum species, to obtain compatible phenotype when is grafted. The observations of this research were conducted on Department of Horticultural Cultures in Protected Spaces from Horting Institute Bucharest. The experience was carry out on a cultivar collection consisting from L. esculentum plants: Romanian scions ('Siriana'-F1 hybrid and 'Buzău 1600'- variety), creations from the germplasm bank of Research and Development Station for Vegetable Growing Buzău (VDRS Buzău) and Japanese rootstock ('Groundforce'-F1 hybrid) from Sakata seed. The plant diameters were correlated for splice grafting, cutting at 45 degrees. The grafting was performed successfully. The technological steps have achieved phenotypic compatibility of the plants when was the splice grafting. The technology for producing of grafted planting material at some Romanian tomatoes ('Siriana' and 'Buzău' 1600) was established for the crops in protected spaces in south area of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetable grafting is useful in Romania; it is more difficult in watermelons and melons and it is continuously developing. The research was aimed the establishing of the technological stages for seedling producing of scions (Romanian melons and watermelons) and rootstocks (F1 hybrids of Lagenaria siceraria and Cucurbita maxima x C. moschata) for obtaining of grafted plant seedlings. The experience was realized out on a collection consisting from two Romanian scions, melon ('Fondant' variety) and watermelon ('Dochița' variety) obtained at Research and Development Station for Vegetable Growing Buzău and two rootstocks, bottle gourd - L. siceraria ('Emphasis' F1) and interspecific hybrid squash - C. maxima x C. moschata ('Cobalt' F1). The obtaining of scion and rootstock plants was made according to the ecological requirements of the species. The grafting was by splice. The plants had optimal diameters for splice grafting. Between scions ('Fondant' and 'Dochița') are no difference at grafting. Technological stages were established for producing grafted seedlings of Romanian melon and watermelon. The grafting was performed successfully for cucurbit plants (scions and rootstocks). These technological stages for splice grafting of Romanian melons and watermelons are recommended for cultures in the south area of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research was realized in the Laboratory of Protected Cultures of the ICDIMPH-Horting Bucharest, during the years 2008-2013. Were watched the growth of the cucumbers grafted seedlings. The biological material used was composed from grafted seedlings, using one scion, cucumbers F1 hybrids (Mathilde) and three rootstocks - wild variety, F1 hybrids (TZ148, Shintoza, Batora). From registration of the growth indicators has resulted a superior quality of the grafted planting material, compared with the normal seedlings. TZ148 rootstock has obtained the best results, followed by Shintoza, then Batora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researches was conducted in the Laboratory for Protected Cultures of the Research and Development Institute for Processing and Marketing of the Horticultural Products - Horting Bucharest. The observations were made during the growing season, in 2013 year. The experience was conducted in a rootstocks collection consisting from 3 hybrids F1 by Lagenaria siceraria (Argentario, Macis, Achile). The research has aimed obtaining some rootstocks by cucurbits using different seeds positions, in order to establish technological dates to produce seedlings for grafting. The results show that at the studied hybrids the seed position has influenced the rootstocks emergence. The seed position is an important factor in the technology for production of L. siceraria rootstocks seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]