Effect of xanthan gum and allicin as elicitors against Bipolaris sorokiniana on barley in field experiments

• DOI: 10.1007/bf03356248
• Publication Date: 2016-04-16T08:12:43Z
• Authors: N. Antoniazzi; C. Deschamps; E. E. Bach
• Keywords: Bipolaris

Barley spot blotch, caused by the fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoem., leads to decreases in productivity and affects beer quality. The objective of the present study was to validate findings in laboratory and greenhouse experiments on biochemical responses that occur in malting barley cultivar BRS 195 when treated with elicitors of resistance (xanthan gum and allicin) and with the fungicide epoxiconazole + pyraclos- trobin, compared with untreated plants in field trials in 2003 and 2004. Experimental design was that of random blocks with four repetitions. The incidence and severity of the disease were evaluated, as well as the size of lesions and area infected. Remarkable was that the area infected on the leaves and the size of the lesions were smaller in the group treated only with the elicitors, whereas plants treated with the fungicide only had larger diseased areas. Plants in the control group presented different lesion sizes and the greatest infected area. The biochemical analyses were performed on: total protein concentration, activity of the enzyme s-1,3-glucanase and phenol concentration. Their variables were rather similar in both years of the trial. Total protein concentration and activity of s-1,3-glucanase was higher in the control plots than in plots treated with the two elicitors or with the fungicide. Phenol concentration was higher in the control and in the plot treated with the fungicide only. Allicin and xanthan gum used as elicitors were as effective as the fungicide against the leafspot severity on barley. Though lesions still were present on leaves the elicitors were as protective as the fungicide.