In vitro EVALUATION OF ACIBENZOLAR-S-METHYL ON INHIBITION OF FIRE BLIGHT IN APPLE CV. GOLDEN DELICIOUS

Document Type : Short Article

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Abstract

In this research, the effect of a defense elicitor, Bion ® (Acibenzolar-S-methyl) on fire blight disease in apple cv. Golden delicious was evaluated. Erwinia amylovora strains were isolated from blighted samples collected from Karaj, Qazvine, Mashhad and Neishabur. After identification using biochemical/ physiological tests and PCR, a mixture of four strains was used as inoculum. Golden delicious plantlets were propagated in MS medium supplemented with BAP and NAA and sprayed with Bion, distilled water and streptomycin and inoculated using two different methods.  Based on the result, inoculation using shoot cutting method resulted in a higher blight severity than leaf cutting method.  Having no bactericidal activity, Bion treatment reduced fire blight severity at a level comparable to streptomycin.  Accordingly, it is conculded that Bion elicitor can control fire blight in the most prominent apple cultivar of the country, cv. Golden delicious.

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