Evaluation of the plant defence booster, acibenzolar-S-methyl, for use in Australian agriculture

摘要

Acibenzolar-S-methyl was screened for its efficacy against a range of diseases in Australian crops. Crop phytotoxicity was also assessed. Trial results in tomatoes, lettuce, cucurbits, ornamentals and various other crops indicated that acibenzolar-S-methyl has potential as an alternative crop protection tool. In tomatoes, acibenzolar-S-methyl applied at 50 g a.i /ha was significantly more effective than copper hydroxide for management of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (bacterial spot). In watermelon, acibenzolar-S-methyl was as effective as the conventional copper treatment for control of the bacterium Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (bacterial blotch).There was a tendency for increased disease control when lower rates of acibenzolar-S-methyl were used in combination with conventional chemicals. Higher rates alone often resulted in disease control equivalent to the lower rates used in conjunction withconventional chemistry. However, in a number of trials, the higher rates of acibenzolar-S-methyl resulted in crop phytotoxicity.