With the high cost of maintaining and operating wind machines, growers are increasingly interested in alternative methods of freeze protection. Several possible frost protectant materials were applied to Valencia oranges at the Yuma Mesa Agricultural Center. Although temperatures reached the mid-to-upper 20s at the test site during the winters of 1984-1985 and 1985-1986, no frost damage occurred. As a result, it was impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of the materials.

Research has shown that the presence of ice-nucleation-active (INA) bacteria, such as Pseudomonas syringae and Erwinia herbicola, will result in ice formation several degrees centigrade higher than would otherwise occur. Seven possible chemical frost protectants were applied to Lisbon lemons of the Yuma Mesa Ag Center. Four replications of effectiveness of the materials were evaluated by determining tip bum and fruit damage following two subfreezing episodes in December 1987. There were no statistically significant differences between treatments under the conditions of this study.

Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of temperature on development of Phytophthora gummosis and root rot of citrus as well as the influence of temperature on sporulation of Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica. Maximum production of sporangia by each fungus occurred at 25 C, while slight or no sporangia production occurred at 10, 15, and 35 C. Minimal growth of lesions was observed when stems of rough lemon were inoculated with P. citrophthora or P. parasitica and incubated at 5 and 30 C or 10 and 30 C, respectively. The inhibitory and stimulating effect of certain temperatures on sporulation and disease development could be useful for determination of optimum times for application of fungicides or other disease control measures.

Sodium tetrathiocarbonate (STTC) releases carbon disulfide when added to water and applied to soil. Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the effect of this chemical on growth and sporulation of Phytophthora citrophthora and P. parasitica, which cause Phytophthora gummosis and mot rot of citrus in Arizona Zoospore motility, zoospore cyst viability, sporangia production, and mycelia' growth were significantly reduced in the presence of STTC Results of laboratory tests suggest that application of S7TC as a soil drench could reduce inoculum production and subsequent new infections by P. citrophthora and P. parasitica.

For 24 consecutive months, root pieces were collected from field -grown Lisbon lemon trees established on Citrus aurantium (sour orange), C. jambhiri (rough lemon), and C. volkameriana rootstocks. Root segments were wounded, inoculated with Phytophthora citrophthora or P. parasitica, and incubated for 96 hr in moist chambers. Smaller lesions developed during Jan -Feb than during Jul-Oct on root pieces of all tested rootstocks inoculated with P. citrophthora as well as root pieces of C aurantium inoculated with P. parasitica. Apparently there is a seasonal variation in the susceptibility of citrus rootstocks to colonization by Phytophthora. This information could be useful for more effective timing of fungicide applications.

Since 1973, Yuma County has had three apparently unrelated infestations of California Red Scale (CRS). The Yuma County citrus Pest Control District (YCCPCD) was successful in eradicating the first two in 1980 and 1984, respectively. We are continuing our spray program on the third, but our detection methods indicate that this infestation has now also been eradicated.

The relative virulence of Phytophthora parasitica recovered from citrus and other plants to rough lemon was investigated Isolates of Phytophthora parasitica from citrus were highly virulent to rough lemon seedlings, causing crown rot and significant reduction of root weight. Isolates of the pathogen from noncitrus hosts caused slight damage to rough lemon, with no crown rot and only minor reduction of root weight. Evidently, isolates of P. parasitica from several noncitrus hosts do not pose a serious threat to citrus groves.

This study was initiated to evaluate and compare the effect of root and soil treatments with sodium tetrathiocarbonate (STTC) (Enzone), metalaxyl (Ridomil), and fosetyl-Al (Aliette) on subsequent development of Phytophthora root rot on citrus. Disease development was significantly reduced on rough lemon seedlings treated with STTC or metalaxyl compared to untreated plants when this citrus rootstock was inoculated with sporangia of P. citrophthora or P. parasitica. Growth of rough lemon seedlings in soil naturally infested with P. parasitica that was treated one week before planting with STTC or metalaxyl was equivalent to that obtained in sterilized orchard soil STTC applied as a soil drench at 2,450 ppm was lethal to P. citrophthora and P. parasitica on colonized leaf disks of lepton buried in soil, whereas a similar treatment with metalaxyl at 10 ppm or fosetyl Al at 3,000 ppm did not appreciably affect pathogen viability. Sporangium production on leaf disks of lemon colonized by P. citrophthora and P. parasitica and buried in soil was reduced at least 90% compared to the untreated control six days after treatment of soil with 2,450 ppm of STTC, 10 ppm of metalaxyl, or 3,000 ppm of fosetyl AL These studies demonstrate the potential usefulness of sodium tetrathiocarbonate as a fungicide for control of Phytophthora root rot of citrus. Only fosetyl-Al (Aliette) and metalaxyl (Ridomil) currently are registered for control of Phytophthora diseases on citrus.