Determination of effects of some plant activators against potato virus y in pepper

Abstract

In this work, the effects of the plant activators Messenger, Actigard, ISR-2000 and Crop-Set against Potato Virus Y (PVY) in pepper (Capsicum annuum) were evaluated. In surveys conducted in Adana and Mersin provinces of southern Turkey in 2015, PVY was detected in symptomatic peppers by DAS-ELISA tests. The PVY isolate used in this study was isolated from pepper plants in Adana. Effects of the activators were evaluated in a climate chamber. Pepper seedlings were treated by Messenger, Actigard, ISR-2000 and Crop-Set and then the activator-treated peppers were inoculated by the PVY isolate 72 and 96 hrs after the activator treatments. In the assay, symptom expression time, plant length, leaf width, root length, lignification (lignin accumulation) and H2O2 accumulation were measured until the flowering period. The data was analyzed by using statistical methods. Messenger, Actigard, ISR-2000 and Crop-Set delayed symptom expression time by 12, 10, 8 and 3 days, respectively. Moreover Actigard, Messenger and ISR-2000 increased leaf surface area and plant height. Among all treatments, only inoculations with PVY 72 hrs after Crop-Set treatments increased the root length. Activator treated plants showed lignification and H2O2 accumulation. Best treatment times for lignification and H2O2 accumulation were determined as 72 hrs for Messenger, 96 hrs for Actigard, Crop-Set and ISR-2000.