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Efficacy of Biological Control Agents and Resistance Inducer for Control of Mal Secco Disease
Giuseppa Rosaria Leonardi1, Giancarlo Polizzi1, Alessandro Vitale1
1Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy.
Abstract:
Mal secco, caused by Plenodomus tracheiphilus, is an economically important fungal vascular disease in citrus-growing countries of the Mediterranean basin. Preventing fungal infections usually requires a high number of copper treatments but European legislation imposes the minimization of their accumulation in soil. In our study, biological control agents (BCAs) and a plant resistance inducer (PRI), tested in four different experiments on citrus seedlings under controlled conditions, have resulted in promising strategies to control mal secco disease. Foliar (Experiment I) and soil (Experiment II) applications of two formulations of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Amylo-X® LC and Amylo-X® WG) provided similar performances in reducing the disease amount (incidence and symptoms severity) over time compared to the untreated control, whereas copper hydroxide (Kocide Opti®) used as standard was the most effective treatment over time. In the third experiment, Pythium oligandrum strain M1 (Polyversum®) and Trichoderma asperellum strain ICC012 + Trichoderma gamsii strain ICC080 (Remedier®) were able to reduce disease incidence and symptoms severity compared to the untreated control. Remedier® provided the best performances in reducing the disease amount, whereas the Polyversum® application was the least effective treatment over time. The effectiveness of the Trichoderma spp. formulation in reducing P. tracheiphilus infections did not significantly differ from the standard copper compound (Kocide Opti®). Comprehensively, in the last experiment (IV), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) alone and in mixture with metalaxyl-M proved as effective as B. amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24, with no dose-response relationships observed. These findings provide important insight for the integrated management of mal secco disease.
Insights
Biological control agents and plant resistance inducers show promise for managing citrus mal secco disease. These strategies offer alternatives to copper treatments, aiding sustainable agriculture and soil health.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Agricultural Microbiology
- Integrated Pest Management
Background:
- Mal secco, a fungal vascular disease caused by *Plenodomus tracheiphilus*, significantly impacts citrus production in the Mediterranean.
- Current disease prevention relies heavily on copper treatments, raising concerns due to European regulations on soil accumulation.
- There is a need for sustainable and effective alternatives to copper-based fungicides for mal secco management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of biological control agents (BCAs) and a plant resistance inducer (PRI) against mal secco disease in citrus.
- To compare the performance of BCAs and PRI with a standard copper treatment under controlled conditions.
- To provide insights for the integrated management of mal secco disease.
Main Methods:
- Four experiments were conducted on citrus seedlings under controlled conditions.
- Tested treatments included *Bacillus amyloliquefaciens* formulations (foliar and soil application), *Pythium oligandrum*, *Trichoderma* spp. (Remedier®), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), and copper hydroxide (Kocide Opti®).
- Disease incidence and severity were monitored over time to assess treatment effectiveness.
Main Results:
- *Bacillus amyloliquefaciens* strains D747 and FZB24 demonstrated significant reduction in mal secco incidence and severity.
- *Trichoderma* spp. (Remedier®) showed strong efficacy, comparable to the standard copper compound, in reducing disease.
- Acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM), alone or in mixture, was as effective as *B. amyloliquefaciens* FZB24.
Conclusions:
- Biological control agents (*Bacillus amyloliquefaciens*, *Trichoderma* spp.) and plant resistance inducers (ASM) are promising strategies for mal secco disease management.
- These alternatives can reduce reliance on copper treatments, contributing to more sustainable agricultural practices.
- The study provides valuable data for developing integrated strategies to control mal secco in citrus.
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