Influence of foliar sprays of Bacillus subtilis QST 713 on development of early blight disease and yield of field tomatoes in Ontario

Figures & data

Table 1. Effect of weekly foliar sprays of dried (Serenade) or aqueous (Rhapsody) formulations of biofungicide Bacillus subtilis QST 713 and copper hydroxide (Kocide) on foliar disease severity of early blight severity on tomato foliage during 2008–2010 field trials.

	Early blight severity (AUDPC)^a			Early blight (%)^b
Spray Treatments	2008	2009	2010	2008	2009	2010
Control	210 ± 14 a	176 ± 0 a	27 ± 0 a	13.8 ± 2.7 a	18.5 ± 0.0 a	9.0 ± 0.0 a
Serenade	187 ± 26 a	142 ± 14 bc	62 ± 19 a	12.6 ± 3.5 ab	13.8 ± 2.7 b	18.5 ± 6.7 a
Rhapsody	131 ± 16 bc	159 ± 10 ab	48 ± 21 a	5.6 ± 1.1 c	18.5 ± 0.0 a	16.1 ± 7.1 a
Kocide	125 ± 12 c	117 ± 8 c	31 ± 4 a	7.9 ± 1.1 bc	9.0 ± 0.0 c	11.4 ± 2.4 a
Kocide + Serenade	130 ± 13 bc	142 ± 19 bc	27 ± 0 a	7.9 ± 1.1 bc	13.8 ± 2.7 b	9.0 ± 0.0 a
Kocide + Rhapsody	152 ± 27 b	134 ± 8 bc	27 ± 0 a	10.3 ± 2.9 b	13.8 ± 2.7 b	9.0 ± 0.0 a
Kocide + Bravo^c	98 ± 8 d	117 ± 8 c	62 ± 21 a	5.6 ± 1.1 c	9.0 ± 0.0 c	18.5 ± 6.7 a

Notes: Means ± standard error are the average of four replicate plots for each year. Means within a year with a common letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).

^a AUDPC = area under the disease progress curve

^b Per cent early blight severity was estimated based on final foliar disease rating

^c A tank mix of copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) and chlorothalonil (Bravo 500) was used as a standard treatment.

Fig. 1 Effect of weekly foliar sprays of dried (Serenade) and aqueous (Rhapsody) formulations of biofungicide Bacillus subtilis QST 713 and copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) alone or in combination on early blight incidence on tomato fruit during 2008 to 2010 field trials. A tank mix of copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) and chlorothalonil (Bravo 500) was used as a standard treatment. Error bars are standard error of the mean from four replicate plots. Treatments within a year with a common letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).

Fig. 2 Effect of weekly foliar sprays of dried (Serenade) and aqueous (Rhapsody) formulations of biofungicide Bacillus subtilis QST 713 and copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) alone or in combination on the percentage of late blight-infected tomato fruit during 2009 and 2010 field trials. A tank mix of copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) and chlorothalonil (Bravo 500) was used as a standard treatment. Error bars are standard error of the mean from four replicate plots. Treatments within a year with a common letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).

Table 2. Effect of weekly foliar sprays of dried (Serenade) or aqueous (Rhapsody) formulations of biofungicide Bacillus subtilis QST 713 and copper hydroxide (Kocide) on healthy and total fruit yields of tomato during 2008–2010 field trials.

	Healthy fruit (Kg/10 plants)			Total fruit (Kg/10 plants)
Spray Treatments	2008	2009	2010	2008	2009	2010
Control	8.7 ± 1.5 d	8.4 ± 1.6 b	30.5 ± 3.5 bc	20.6 ± 1.4 b	16.6 ± 1.7 b	34.3 ± 3.7 b
Serenade	9.4 ± 2.5 d	9.2 ± 1.0 b	31.9 ± 3.2 ab	18.6 ± 2.7 b	18.3 ± 1.2 b	35.6 ± 2.8 ab
Rhapsody	11.7 ± 2.4 cd	7.6 ± 0.3 b	27.2 ± 2.6 c	22.4 ± 3.6 b	16.0 ± 0.5 b	31.0 ± 1.9 c
Kocide	16.4 ± 3.8 b	9.6 ± 1.5 b	33.5 ± 4.7 ab	21.5 ± 3.7 b	18.3 ± 1.5 b	36.0 ± 4.7 ab
Kocide + Serenade	20.0 ± 3.8 a	9.9 ± 1.6 b	34.2 ± 4.2 a	29.4 ± 4.1 a	17.6 ± 1.7 b	36.7 ± 3.6 a
Kocide + Rhapsody	12.5 ± 1.4 c	9.3 ± 0.7 b	34.4 ± 4.4 a	20.2 ± 1.2 b	18.4 ± 1.4 b	37.4 ± 4.2 a
Kocide + Bravo^a	18.9 ± 0.8 ab	21.1 ± 1.5 a	32.8 ± 3.5 ab	28.0 ± 1.9 a	30.0 ± 2.4 a	36.6 ± 3.6 a

Notes: Means ± standard error are the average of four replicate plots for each year. Means within a year with a common letter are not significantly different (P < 0.05).

^a A tank mix of copper hydroxide (Kocide 2000) and chlorothalonil (Bravo 500) was used as a standard treatment.