Alternatives to methyl bromide in soil fumigation of tomato production in Morocco

intensified cropping systems of vegetable props and particularly tomato conducted under plastic houses resulted in high infestation of soilborne pests, especially Root-Knot nematodes, Verticillium and Fusarium wilts. To control these pests, resistant-hybrids and grafted varieties with high horticultural potentials on resistant germplasms were extensively used. Also fumigant nematicides, such as Metam Sodium and Dichloropropene and non-fumigant, such as Organophophorus and Carbamates are widely applied. The failure of these methods had recently induced high usage of Methyl Bromide. The quantities of imported Methyl Bromide had increased from approximately 408 tons in 1992 to 1085 tons in 1996 and are used mostly in soil fumigation of tomato grown under plastic houses. The potential alternatives underway are steam pasteurisation, non-soil cultivation, solarization and optimal use of registered pesticides, all in combination with resistant and grafted varieties of tomato, and within an Integrated Pest Management Program.