Research Paper Fusarium Wilt on Abaca

Induction of Resistance in Abaca Against
Wilt Disease Complex caused by
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (E. F. Smith) and
Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et. al.
Using Chemical and Biological Elicitors

Abstract Resistance in plants has been reported to be inducible using biological and or chemical elicitors. Fusarium wilt and bacterial wilt diseases are two major diseases hampering abaca production in the Philippines. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of biological and chemical eliciors of resistance to control wilt disease complex in abaca caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) and Ralstonia solanacearum. Suspected biological elicitors (Fomes and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae or Xoo) and known chemical elicitors (Asprin or Acetyl Salicylic acid and Boost) were sprayed to the abaca tissue cultured seedlings at 15 days interval together with water and Nordox (fungicide with bactericidal activity) as checks. The sprayed seedlings were challenged by simultaneous inoculation with FOC and Ralstonia solanacearum. The parameters used to compare the treatments were: percent infected plants, disease severity rating, percent area of vascular discoloration and number of remaining live plants. Results show that Boost and Fomes resulted to an effective control of the wilt disease complex which were comparable or even better compared to Nordox, the fungicide check. Xoo and Acetyl Salicylic Acid on the other hand produced higher disease compared to the control. This study has demonstrated the potential of Fomes and Boost as biological and chemical elicitors of resistance, respectively in abaca which protected it from wilt disease complex.

Keywords: Abaca, SAR, chemical elicitors, biological elicitors, Fusarium wilt, Bacterial wilt

------------------------------------------------- 1 Student Researcher, VSU 2 Associate Professor, DPM, VSU and Research Adviser

INTRODUCTION Abaca

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