Abstract
Chitosan has been proposed to elicit defense responses in plants. In this study, we evaluated the potential roles of chitosan as a fertilizer supplement to stimulate Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch ‘Schwabenland Red’ growth and resistance to gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. We evaluated the effect of treatment with fertilizer containing various ratios of N, P, and K in combination with different concentrations of chitosan on plant growth and disease resistance. Of the sixteen treatments examined, the treatment consisting of an N:P:K ratio of 2.8:1.0:1.4 and chitosan concentration of 0.10 g·L-1 had the most positive effect on plant height, crown development, and other horticultural traits (i.e., flowering time, flower diameter, and flower quantity) at 20, 40, and 60 days after treatment, and significantly reduced the severity and incidence of gray mold compared to the controls and other treatments at 60 days after treatment. Furthermore, this treatment markedly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities. Based on these findings, we suggest that the chemical composition of the fertilizer and concentration of chitosan used affect the degree to which Begonia × hiemalis growth is stimulated and pathogen resistance is improved.
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