Exogenous Phytohormones Induced Resistance in Citrus reticulata Blanco against Diaphorina citri Kuwayama

Abstract

Effect of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and β-amino butyric acid (BABA) applied on Citrus reticulata Blanco against eggs, nymphs and adults of Asian citrus psylla, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is reported. Mean number of eggs per budling and nymphs per budling was significantly less in case of SA treatment 1.5 mM (13.7 eggs per budling; 4.3 nymphs per budling) followed by 1.0 mM (28.0 eggs per budling; 9.3 nymphs per budling) in comparison to control (107.3 eggs per budling; 56.2 nymphs per budling). No adult was recorded in both the SA treatments. Mean number of eggs per budling in JA @ 0.10 mM was 61.0 eggs per budling and nymphs 22.3 per budling while on an average 4.0 adults emerged. Different SA and JA treatments resulted in 28.5–87.2, 41.0–92.4 and 51.4–98.3 per cent and 8.9–62.2, 26.2–65.6 and 43.3–89.5 per cent reduction in eggs, nymphs and adults per budling, respectively. Foliar application of BABA @ 400 mM recorded significantly less number of eggs per budling (51.6) which was at par with 300 mM (55.6 eggs per budling). However, the mean number of nymphs per budling was less in 400 mM (25.7) as compared to the other doses. The findings reveal a possibility of deployment of these phytohormones in significantly inhibiting development of D. citri.