Redution of the symptons caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca through application of benzothiadiazole and silicon

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of benzothiadiazole (BTH) and silicon applications on the control of the disease caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca on Nicotiana tabacum. The experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions, where X. fastidiosa (9a5c strain) containing 4.7x10⁷ CFU mL^-1 was inoculated in N. tabacum plants. The BTH and silicon treatments consisted of BTH (0.6 and 1.2 mM) application to plant leaves, and sodium metasilicate solution (2 and 4 mM of Si) application to soil. Plants of N. tabacum treated with BTH showed no reduction in symptoms. However, plants treated with sodium metasilicate (source of Si) were rendered asymptomatic. Disease resistance induced by Si can be useful to control citrus variegated chlorosis.