Foliar Applications of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl Negatively Affect the Yield of Grafted Tomatoes in Fields Infested withRalstonia solanacearum

Abstract

Three field experiments were conducted in Florida from 2012-2014 to assess the impact of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), a systemic acquired-resistance inducer, applied as foliar spray or through drip-irrigation lines, on bacterial wilt incidence and yield of grafted tomatoes. The experiments were conducted in a field with race 1, biovar 1 strain of Ralstonia solanacearum, causal agent of tomato bacterial wilt. In all three experiments, the susceptible tomato variety BHN 602, grafted onto a resistant rootstock BHN 998, was compared with nongrafted BHN 602, treated with or without foliar applications of ASM and with grafted plants treated with foliar applications of ASM. In two experiments, an additional treatment of drip applications of ASM on grafted and nongrafted plants was evaluated. Grafting alone or in combination with drip applications of ASM (178.6 μM) significantly reduced disease incidence and increased total marketable yield relative to nongrafted treatments. There were no significant differences between grafted plants with or without drip ASM applications in terms of bacterial wilt incidence or total marketable yield. However, we demonstrate for the first time that foliar ASM applications on grafted plants negatively affects the total marketable yield compared with drip ASM applications on grafted plants or nontreated grafted control.

Characterization 3333 of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) accessions for resistance to phylotype I and phylotype II strains of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex under high temperatures

“…Tomato production in the tropics and subtropics, however, is severely affected by bacterial wilt disease, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum species complex ( RSSC ; Safni et al, ). The RSSC are soil‐borne bacteria which can attack >450 plant species in 50 families, including pepper, potato, tobacco, eggplant, ginger, banana and several other economically important crops (Hayward, ; Janse et al, ; Kunwar, Iriarte, et al, ; Kunwar, Paret, et al, ; Kunwar et al, ; Poussier et al, ). The pathogen exhibits wide phenotypic and genotypic variation and can survive for extended periods in irrigation water, soil and rhizosphere (Van Elsas et al, ; Van Elsas, Kastelein, Bries, & Overbeek, ).…”

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Pine Trees Treated with Resistance-Inducing Substances against the Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

“…ASM, which was the first synthetic chemical developed as an SAR elicitor, induces a downstream step in SA accumulation [ 70 , 71 ], whereas MeSA, which is synthesised from plants, is a biologically inactive derivative of SA that is converted to SA in distal tissues [ 72 ]. These are structurally stable compounds that are not susceptible to chemical modification, such as rapid glycosylation of SA [ 33 , 73 , 74 ], and are advantageous in that they can readily penetrate and disperse throughout non-infected plants upon exogenous application [ 73 , 75 ]. Thus, applications of ASM and MeSA can effectively mimic the role of SA.…”

Plant defense priming in the field: a review

“…ASM was also tested in the field against another bacterial disease of tomato, tomato bacterial wilt (caused by R. solanacearum). 76 Trials took place in two locations in Florida over a period of 3 years. Foliar ASM application did not improve yield or reduce tomato bacterial wilt incidence in a nongrafted susceptible cultivar (BHN 602).…”