The carrot industry continues its search for alternatives to control root-knot nematodes. Find out which non-fumigant nematicides are showing potential to do the job on page 4.
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Harvest Reliability
Two consistent varieties that perform across seasons and markets
JERADA RZ
• Early Nantes hybrid with smooth skin
• Early high yielding variety
• High uniformity in roots
• Strong, mid-dark green and upright foliage
• Excellent for bunching and fresh markets
YMER RZ
• Berlicum/Nantes hybrid
• Cylindrical shape and smooth skin
• High uniformity in length and diameter
• Intense orange color and strong green foliage
• Good for fresh market and long-term cold storage
Products With Potential Non-Fumigant Nematicides and root-knot Nematode Management in california carrots
By Jaspreet Sidhu, University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources
Some non-fumigant nematicides are showing potential to manage root-knot nematodes in carrots, according to research conducted at the University of California. This could be good news as the industry searches for alternative methods to control root-knot nematodes, which pose a major threat in carrot production regions including California.
California is the leading producer of carrots in the United States and produces about 80% of the total U.S. production. Carrots are grown year-round in diverse growing areas in California. The southern San Joaquin Valley has the most concentrated area under carrot production, with Kern County producing almost 60% of the total carrots in California. The nation’s two largest carrot growers and shippers are also located in Kern County. However, the pride of being the “Carrot Capital” in the nation also comes with several challenges for carrot cultivation, and one such challenge is the damage caused by root-knot nematodes.
Root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., are the most important plant-parasitic nematodes affecting carrot production in California, especially in light texture soils. The nematodes are widespread in central and southern California. Damage results
from feeding of second-stage juveniles inside carrot roots, and the roots respond to nematode invasion by the formation of root galls. Root-knot nematodes can cause substantial damage by stubbing, forking and galling of the roots, thereby reducing marketable yields. Deformed roots due to galls are unable to sustain the water and nutrient needs of the plants, leading to wilting and poor growth of plants. Forked roots also pick up excess soil that increases the tare transported to processing facilities and increases processing costs for additional cleaning efforts.
Nematode Management
Currently, there are no resistant cultivars available for the California carrot industry, and management has mainly relied on the use of pre-plant soil fumigants. Management with these products is expensive and involves safety and environmental risks.
New fumigant regulations by the Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) have been put in place to restrict the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the use of soil
Figure 1. Carrots are rated on a root galling scale (left to right, 0-10). Roots rated 0 through 3 are deemed marketable, while roots 4 and above are non-marketable.
fumigants. These regulations include limits on the amount of soil fumigants a grower is allowed to use in a year, caps on the amounts allowed within a township, and newly expanded buffer zones, meaning large parts of a field may be left untreated. These new regulations by DPR may mean that there will be some fields not treated for nematodes because of caps placed on the amount a grower is allowed to use or caps on the amount of fumigants allowed in a township.
Rotation with non-host crops can be a viable option, but its utility is often limited due to the wide host range and reproduction potential of the root-knot nematodes.
Therefore, alternative control options that have high efficacy, are economically viable and are environmentally safe need to be evaluated under field situations. In addition, to prevent the possible development of nematode resistance to these new products, it would be imperative to have alternative chemistries available to avoid the development of nematicide resistance. An overreliance on any one nematicide product would likely lead to the loss of that product.
Field trials
Hence, the purpose of research at the University of California was to continue evaluation of recently registered non-fumigant, novel nematicides and screening of potential nematicides for managing root-knot nematodes in carrots.
A promising nematicide, Nimitz (a.i. fluensulfone, ADAMA Agricultural Solutions Ltd.), was registered for use on carrots in California in 2021. Another nematicide, Salibro (a.i fluazaindolizine, Corteva), was recently registered for use on carrots in California. Velum One (a.i. fluopyram, Bayer
Crop Science), a broad-spectrum fungicide and nematicide, is registered on several major crops in California but not on carrots. It has promising efficacy against root-knot nematodes in carrots, but its efficacy is sometimes debatable due to its limited motility in the soil. However, field studies have suggested that soil surfactants might improve fluopyram’s efficacy. Nimitz, Salibro and Velum have only “caution” on the label as a signal word. Salibro has high solubility and is highly selective against root-knot nematodes, but continued evaluation is needed. Another developmental nematicide (DP) also showed excellent performance against root-knot nematodes in our 2022 and 2023 trials.
Two randomized complete block field trials were conducted in the summers of 2022 and 2023 at the Kern County Extension Research Station in Shafter, California, where a root-knot nematode site is maintained to ascertain a uniform and moderate to high root-knot nematode population pressure for these studies. In 2022, the trial included four replications and six treatments. Each plot was comprised of two 30-inch-wide beds that were 20 feet in length with a 5-foot buffer between plots along the bed. Carrot seeds cv. Uppercut was seeded (three lines per bed) on June 23, 2022. In 2023, the trial had six replications and eight treatments. Each plot was 30 inches wide and 20 feet in length with a 5-foot buffer between plots along the bed. Carrot seeds cv. Uppercut was seeded (three lines per bed) on June 15, 2023. Rates, timings and methods of application for each treatment are listed in Table 1.
Treatments were applied as a pre-plant or post-plant application (as recommended by the manufacturer) as a soil drench using watering cans, incorporated into the top soil and
2022
2023
table 1. Treatments, rates and application timings in 2022 and 2023 for the nematicide screening in carrots
sprinkler irrigated to move the products down into the soil. The trials were managed following grower standard agronomic practices.
At harvest, carrot roots were evaluated for root galling. For root gall evaluations, about 100 carrots from each plot were randomly sampled and were visually rated for the severity of root galling on a scale of 0-10, as shown in Fig. 1 (0=no galls, 10=completely galled roots). The average galling on these roots was used to give a galling index for each plot. Carrots with a gall rating of 3 or lower were considered marketable. Data on the percent marketable carrots was also recorded. Data on root galling and marketable carrots was analyzed using statistical analysis software.
results
In 2022, significant levels of phytotoxicity, poor germination and loss of plant stand were observed in the plots treated with a higher rate of Nimitz. Moderate to severe galling and root-knot nematode-induced forking and galling were observed in the trial. The severity of root galling was assessed at harvest (Nov. 7, 2022). The treatments DP1 and Salibro had significantly less galling on the roots compared to the untreated control plots (Fig. 2). The treatments Nimitz1 (low rate) and the organic product MB were intermediate in performance and had numerically lower galling than the untreated control and the Nimitz2 (high rate) but were not statistically different. Likewise, the percentage
of marketable carrots was significantly higher in the treatments Salibro and DP1 (Fig. 3)
In 2023, loss of plant stand and some phytotoxicity was observed in the plots treated with Nimitz. Again, moderate to severe galling and root-knot nematode-induced forking and galling were observed in the trial. The treatments DP, Velum+Watermaxx (VW) and Salibro had significantly less galling on the roots compared to the untreated control plots (Fig. 4). The two Nimitz treatments were intermediate in performance and had numerically lower galling than the untreated control and the treatments MB1 and FMC. However, there was no difference in the percentage of marketable carrots among treatments.
In these trials, there was some treatment effect on root galling throughout the season, with DP, Salibro and the Velum+Watermaxx treatments having lower root galling index compared to the untreated control and other products. The research trial demonstrates that the application of some of these products under experimental conditions in carrots provided acceptable control of root-knot nematodes compared to the untreated control. Some of these products have the potential to be considered as an alternative, viable and safe option, but further evaluation and optimization are needed to better determine the efficacy of these products as sole treatments and in combination with other products and their continued use by the carrot industry.
Salibro
Figure 4.
Figure
2025-26 Buyers’ Guide
Thereare a lot of moving parts involved in growing and marketing a carrot crop - from needing the right products to protect your crop from pests and pathogens to having the right equipment to efficiently navigate the season. For most growers, packers and shippers, this translates into a constant to-do list, shopping list and wish list.
Here are some resources to help you enjoy a successful season, from seed to storage.
CROP INPUTS HaRveST
Bayer cropscience.bayer.us
Minuet fungicide
diamond K
diamondkgypsum.com
Solution grade gypsum, sulfate of potash and soil surfactants set the industry standards for purity and efficiency. Advanced testing provides better data from water and soil tests.
The purest, most soluble Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate boosts calcium and sulphur while reducing soil salts.
vive
vivecrop.com (888) 760-0187
AZterknot and AZteroid FC fungicides, Viloprid FC insecticide
dewulf dewulfgroup.com
32 51 20 58 71
Dewulf Zkivse
Self-Propelled 4-Row Carrot Harvester
univerco
univerco.com (450) 245-7152
Mini-Veg, G4-Pro, Mac II (carrot harvesters)
Univerco has been building carrot harvesters since 1978 and is now offering a complete range of harvesters from the smaller 1-row machines that will fit on 60 HP tractors all the way up to multi-row self-propelled and everything in between. A solution for root crops production in any soil type, weather conditions or volume. vogel engineering
vogel-engineering.com (231) 821-2125
Computer individual row head height system, 2,3,4,6 & 8 rows conventional roller bar or high-speed crowing, precision computer controlled planting population systems
Kerian machineS inc.
kerian.com
1709 Hwy 81 S, PO Box 311
Grafton, ND USA 58237 (701) 352-0480
sales@kerian.com
Kerian Speed Sizer
Idaho Falls, ID 3721 W 65th South Idaho Falls, ID 83402 (208) 524-0600
Pasco, WA 5702 Industrial Way Suite 101 Pasco, WA 99301 (509) 547-3437
Fresno, CA 3440 S East Ave. Suite 104 Fresno, CA 93725 (800) 253-4737
Monte Vista, CO 1100 S Country Rd. 3 E Monte Vista, CO 81144 (800) 253-4737
For more than 50 years, BASF’s vegetable seed business has been breeding high-quality carrots that offer increased yield potential, disease resistance, great taste and high nutritional value.
Syngenta Vegetable Seeds has opened a $9 million seed health lab in the Netherlands. The facility features technologies for bacterial, fungal and virus disease testing as part of Syngenta’s global quality control network. With the capacity to process tens of thousands of tests annually, the lab is designed to help the company rapidly respond to emerging phytosanitary challenges and maintain high standards of seed health. Seeds tested at the new facility are sold to customers all over the world.
redox Fills New director Position
Redox Bio-Nutrients has hired Cora Chandler as the company’s first director of product management. Chandler has been in the agricultural industry for 15 years, including the last seven years carrying out product management with a large nutrition company. Her prior work included collaborating with national supplier leads to secure product and alignment on programs, along with analyzing products and portfolios for profitability and agronomic benefits.
Plans call for canadian carrot statue
Bradford, Ontario, Canada, might soon be home to the world’s tallest carrot statue. The city has approved plans to build a 39-foot-tall carrotshaped statue to commemorate 100 years of carrot production in the Holland Marsh area. That would tower over the “Big Carrot” – a 24.5-foottall carrot statue in Ohakune, New Zealand, currently listed as the world’s tallest.
Preliminary design plans for the Canadian carrot statue call for a carrot constructed of steel with a copper top so that, with time, the statue will mostly take on an orange tint and the top will turn green, just like a carrot.
John Stolarczyk, curator of the World Carrot Museum, stands beside the “Big Carrot” in Ohakune, New Zealand, in 2009. At 24.5 feet tall, the statue is the largest carrot model in the world. Photo courtesy John Stolarczyk
Nov. 19-20
Pacific Northwest Vegetable Association Conference and Trade Show
Three Rivers Convention Center Kennewick, Wash. Sheri Nolan, (509) 585-5460 www.pnva.org
dec. 9-11
Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO
DeVos Place Conference Center Grand Rapids, Mich. www.glexpo.com
June 2-3, 2026
International Carrot Conference Bakersfield, Calif.
Jaspreet Sidhu, jaksidhu@ucanr.edu
Editor’s note: To have your event listed, please email Denise Keller, at editor@ColumbiaMediaGroup.com. Please send your information 90 days in advance.
Whether the focus is on disease resistance, difficult growing conditions, consumer preferences or something else altogether, our
New Breeding line Brings cavity spot resistance
By Philipp Simon, USDA-ARS
Anew carrot breeding line is available for developing cello hybrids. Line F7738 has been released by the USDA-ARS jointly with the University of California, the University of Guelph, Washington State University and the Organic Seed Alliance. F7738 was among the most cavity spotresistant entries evaluated in a collection of 65 carrot breeding populations and inbreds tested in field trials in 2020 at both the Ontario Crops Research CenterBradford, Canada, which is naturally infested with Pythium spp., as well as in a field inoculated with Pythium sulcatum and Pythium violae in Mount Vernon, Washington. In 2021-2024, F7738 was re-evaluated at the Ontario and Washington research stations, as well as
NAPOLI
Very full-sized Nantes with strong dark green tops and cylindrical, smooth blunt roots. A specialized variety with a sweet taste when sown in fall for winter harvest.
Resistance IR: Ar / Cc / Ps, Pv
NAVAL
Similar to Nelson, with more uniform roots and plant vigor. The 5 1/2–6 1/2” roots have mild flavor and crisp, juicy texture with early sugar development. Strong, compact tops for bunching.
A Nantes type that produces very shapely, uniform, hairless roots 7-9 inches long. Crisp and sweet, Naval resists cracking with an added bonus of a long shelf life.
Resistance IR: Ad / Ar / Cc
in a field inoculated with Pythium species in Kern County, California, where it again consistently demonstrated a low incidence of cavity spot.
F7738 is a genetically broad-based “flavor select” carrot population derived from ~50 open-pollinated, orange, U.S. and European cultivars that were intercrossed and selected for mild, sweet flavor, smooth roots, and uniform orange external and internal color. It was included among selections evaluated in the USDANIFA-OREI-funded Carrot Improvement for Organic Agriculture project, where it has been included in participatory trials at multiple U.S. locations and found by collaborating growers to be reliably productive with mild and sweet flavor.
F7738 is a fresh market “cello” type with 19-23 cm long roots 3-3.5 cm in diameter at mid-root in University of California Desert Research and Experiment Center (UC-DREC) trials in Holtville, California. It has an orange exterior and interior, smooth root exterior, cylindrical to slightly conical shape, and mild, sweet flavor, comparable to standard cultivars in trials. Hybrids of F7738 with other USDA inbreds were in the top 12 entries in trials in 2022-2024 based on scores of appearance judged by carrot growers and seed industry personnel at the UC-DREC trials.
Seed of F7738 is available to plant breeders, geneticists, pathologists and other research personnel upon request to philipp.simon@usda.gov.
