Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Against Fusarium Based on Laboratory and Field Tests
In the laboratory experiment, chitosan significantly reduced the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sambucinum, and Fusarium graminearum by 88.4%, 89.0%, and 89.8%, respectively.
In the field experiment, treating potato plants with chitosan two weeks after planting the tubers, followed by inoculation with Fusarium a week later, reduced the severity of dry rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium sambucinum by 60.0% and 48.2%, respectively.
When tested as a plant treatment, potato plants treated with chitosan and inoculated with Fusarium showed a 33.5%–45.3% reduction in wilting severity compared to plants inoculated with Fusarium but not treated with chitosan.
Chitosan treatment enhanced the activity of phenolic compounds and defense-related enzymes such as peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase in potato tubers inoculated with Fusarium species.
The results clearly indicate that chitosan can be used as an alternative to chemical fungicides for controlling dry rot and Fusarium wilt by stimulating the plant defense system.
Source:
Mejdoub‐Trabelsi B, Touihri S, Ammar N, Riahi A, Daami‐Remadi M. (2019).
“Effect of chitosan for the control of potato diseases caused by Fusarium species.”
J Phytopathol.;00:1–10.

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