Soil is a complex environment where an interplay of microorganisms, soil chemistry, and soil physics at any given time determines the health of the crop growing in it. Upon introduction of the soil-borne pathogens, and over time, the cultivated soil becomes a reservoir of soil-borne pathogens. Subsequent spread to adjacent uninfected areas can happen easily and effectively by moving infested soil on agricultural equipment, irrigation water, wind, nematodes (as pathogens as well as vectors), etc. In addition, in recent years and in the advent of the phase-out of some effective soil fumigants (e.g., methyl bromide) and climate change the economic implications of mismanaging infested soils have significantly increased. Soil testing is one of the tools in growers’ toolbox that will help them to implement IPM methods and appropriate treatments.

Generally, there are two objectives that can be answered by testing soils for soil-borne pathogens: are there any pathogens present (incidence)? and if present, how much viable inoculum is there (quantification)?

At CSP Labs we offer culture and molecular based soil testing assays to test the incidence and to quantify the inoculum levels of major fungal pathogens. In addition to fungal pathogens, we offer significantly faster and less costly molecular (PCR-based) testing assays for certain nematode species in soil, different growth media, and plant material (e.g., for foliar nematode of strawberries).