Abstract
Foliar spray with commercial nutrients, humic acid, vigamax, and potassium phosphate dibasic of sugar beet plants, was evaluated against leaf spot disease incited by Cercospora beticola. Significant reduction of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) disease severity was reported under natural field infection. Spraying with humic acid (at 20.0 g/l) and mix treatments resulted in the lowest values of disease severity during the two seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) and the highest efficiency against the disease (76.41-89.36%). Retarding of CLS and the reduction of disease severity due to nutrient applications correlated to yield increment. PR1 (SA responsive gene) and LOX2 (JA biosynthesis) genes expression levels were induced and increased in the sugar beet leaves after treatment applications. The nutrients have positive impacts on both sugar beet yield and health. In conclusion, humic acid, vigamax, and potassium phosphate dibasic could be involved in management strategies against Cercospora leaf spot.
Acknowledgement
We would like to express thanks and gratitude to staff members in Plant Pathology Dept., Maize and sugar beet diseases Dept. and Agric. Bot. Dept., Fac. of Agric., Kafrelsheikh University for kind help, faithful effort and advising us during this research.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.