Using a steamroom to sterilize pallets of Styroblock seedling containers

Andy Trent; Robert L. James; Clarke Fleege; Gary Hileman

Treesearch

Using a steamroom to sterilize pallets of Styroblock seedling containers

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Andy Trent, Robert L. James, Clarke Fleege, Gary Hileman

Year:

2007

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Riley, L.E.; Dumroese, R.K.; Landis, T.D. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations - 2006. Proceedings RMRS-P-50. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 63-71

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Abstract

Styrofoam container blocks (for example, Styroblock, fig. 1), hereafter "blocks," are a popular system for growing seedlings in greenhouse nurseries. They come in a variety of sizes and can be reused several times. They must be sterilized before reuse because they may harbor pathogens that can cause diseases to seedlings. Potential pathogens, such as Fusarium spp., live on residual organic matter and within the inner cavity walls of blocks. They also may colonize fragments of roots left on containers after the seedlings have been removed.

Keywords

disease control, plant diseases, disinfection, fungal diseases, fungi, Fusarium, humidity, nurseries, ovens, steam sterilization

Citation

Trent, Andy; James, Robert L.; Fleege, Clarke; Hileman, Gary. 2007. Using a steamroom to sterilize pallets of Styroblock seedling containers. In: Riley, L.E.; Dumroese, R.K.; Landis, T.D. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations - 2006. Proceedings RMRS-P-50. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 63-71