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Abstract Detail

Basic and applied approaches to improve disease resistance in plants

Use of chitosan andbenzothiadiazole to control pre and postharvest diseases of grapes and fruit plants.

Induction of resistance relies in the increase of plant defenses, which makes the tissues more reactive to following biotic and abiotic stress. Plant defenses can be elicited by biotic (microrganisms) or abiotic (physical stress, agronomical practices, application of natural or synthetic compounds) factors. The induction of resistance can be linked to elicitation of different metabolic pathways (SAR, ISR, BABA-ISR). A long list of natural and synthetic compounds is known to have an effect on the host, which can also be coupled with an inhibitory effect on the pathogen. Among these, chitosan and benzothiadiazole (BTH) are well known. Chitosan is produced from chitin partial deacetylation. It is a biopolymer able to produce a film on treated surface, that can have antimicrobial activity, increase host resistance and reduce gas exchanges. Those properties lead to plants with higher resistant to pathogen infections, both in the field (e.g. grapevine downy mildew and gray mold) and after harvest, on different commodities (table grapes, sweet cherries, strawberries). BTH is a light protected analogues of salicylic acid, that is the resistance mediator molecule in SAR. BTH was successful in the protection of sweet cherries and strawberries from postharvest decay, and it also reduced the incidence of Bois noir, the main Phytoplasma disease of grapes in Europe. With Directive 128/2009 on sustainable use of pesticides, in all EU it is mandatory the application of integrated approach in plant protection, and one of the possibilities to reduce the use of chemical fungicides consists in the application of resistance inducers.

1 - Marche Polytechnic University, Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Via Brecce Bianche, Ancona, 60131, Italy

Keywords:
induced resistance
chitosan
benzothiadiazole
Vitis vinifera
Fragaria x ananassa
postharvest decay
plant diseases
phytoplasma
Botrytis cinerea
integrated pest management.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY05
Location: Salon 2/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: SY05007
Abstract ID:494
Candidate for Awards:None