Abstract
Currently, fungicide application in soybean production accounts for an important amount of global pesticide use, and it is therefore most desirable to find new healthier and more environmental friendly alternatives for the phytosanitary management in this crop. In this study, we present convincing evidence for effective induction of disease protection by the agricultural biostimulant PSP1, a formulation based on the plant-defense eliciting activity of the fungal protease AsES (Acremonium strictum elicitor subtilisin), in multiple field trials in Argentina.PSP1 was shown to combine well with commercial spray adjuvants, an insecticide, a herbicide and fungicides used in Argentinian soybean production without losing any defense-inducing activity, indicating an easy and efficient adaptability to conventional soybean production and disease management in the region. Results from multiple soybean field trials conducted with different elite genotypes at several locations during two consecutive growing seasons, showed that PSP1 is able to induce an enhanced pathogen defense which effectively reduced late season disease (LSD) development in field-grown soybean. This defense response seems to be broad-range as disease development was clearly reduced for at least three different fungi causing LSDs in soybean (Septoria glycines, Cercospora kikuchii and Cercospora sojina). It was noteworthy that application of PSP1 in soybean alone gave a similar protection against fungal diseases as compared to the commercial fungicides included in the field trials and that PSP1 applied together with a fungicide at reproductive stages enhanced disease protection and significantly increased grain yields.PSP1 is the first example of an elicitor-based strategy in order to efficiently control multiple fungal diseases under field conditions in the soybean crop. These results show the feasibility of using induced resistance products as complements or even full-good replacements to currently used chemical pesticides, fulfilling a role as important components of a more sustainable crop disease management system.
Highlights
In the last two decades soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] has become the most important crop in Argentina, both in terms of acreage and economic value
Protection against soybean target spot (STS) disease in plants treated with PSP1 combined with different adjuvants in a controlled growing environment is shown in Figure 1 and Supplementary Table 1
We have presented results showing the usefulness of the novel biostimulant, PSP1, based on the protease elicitor
Summary
In the last two decades soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] has become the most important crop in Argentina, both in terms of acreage and economic value. The expansion of soybean production areas in combination with no till management, to improve soil conservation, has impacted heavily on agroecosystems causing a substantial change in prevalence, frequency and intensity of soybean diseases in Argentina (Ploper et al, 2006). In the last two decades late season diseases (LSDs), caused predominantly by necrotrophic fungi, have become the most important pathologies affecting soybean production yields (Carmona et al, 2015). In the Pampas region, the most important soybean production area in Argentina, epiphytic LSDs include Septoria brown spot (SBS) (Septoria glycines glycines Hemmi), Cercospora leaf blight (LB) and purple seed stain [Cercospora kikuchii (Tak. Matsumoto and Tomoy) M. Due to the lack of genetic resistance against most LSDs, the main control strategy for disease management consists in the application of foliar fungicides at reproductive stages (Ploper, 1999; Carmona, 2011)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
