Exogenous application of salicylic acid to control coffee rust

Luciano Abi Rached Tannuri,Willian Rodrigues Macedo,Everaldo Antônio Lopes,Ellen Júnia Canedo

doi:10.4025/actascibiolsci.v43i1.54495

Luciano Abi Rached Tannuri, Willian Rodrigues Macedo + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascibiolsci.v43i1.54495

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Abstract

The exogenous application of salicylic acid can induce plant resistance against pathogens. However, little is known about the potential uses of this bioregulator for controlling coffee diseases. In this study, we assessed the effect of applying salicylic acid (SA – 150 mg L-1) on the management of coffee rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in a 7-year-old coffee plantation with low crop load (651.6 kg ha-1 in 2017). For comparison, plants were sprayed with protectant fungicide (copper hydroxide – CH) and standard fungicides (SF) used by local farmers (boscalid, pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole, and copper hydroxide). Non-treated plants were included as a negative control. Five monthly applications were performed from November 2016 to March 2017. Rust incidence and severity, defoliation, and growth of plagiotropic branches were evaluated monthly. The activity of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total proteins was assessed one day after the first, third, and fifth product applications. Compared to untreated plants, SA reduced the severity and incidence of rust from 36.3 to 54.7%, while CH and SF reduced disease from 31.8 to 54.6% and from 83.8 to 88%, respectively. SA reduced defoliation by 54.1%. SA increased the concentration of CAT, APX, and SOD after the first application. However, this effect was not observed after subsequent applications. Foliar application of SA reduces the severity and incidence of coffee rust and defoliation in plants with a low crop load.

Highlights

The intensity of rust in plants treated with salicylic acid was similar to those treated with copper hydroxide, a protectant fungicide, and the standard fungicides, a combination of protectant and systemic fungicides commonly used by local farmers
The exception was for leaves located on the west-facing side, which had a lower incidence and severity of rust when treated with the standard fungicides than with salicylic acid (Figure 1)
3.5% of leaves fell off in plots treated with standard fungicides

Summary

Introduction

Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter, with a cultivated area of 2.16 million hectares. Minas Gerais state produces more than 50% of Brazilian coffee. The occurrence of diseases limits coffee production in various Brazilian regions (Zambolim, 2016). Coffee rust, caused by Hemileia vastatrix, is prevalent in all coffee growing areas of the country and can cause losses of up to 50% during severe epidemics (Zambolim, 2016)

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