Efficacy of salicylic acid and a Bacillus bioproduct in enhancing growth of cassava and controlling root rot disease

Abstract

The efficiency of a formulated salicylic acid (Zacha 11, 500 mg · l–1) and a Bacillus bioproduct (JN2-007, 1 × 107 cfu · ml–1) in controlling cassava root rot disease and enhancing growth was evaluated. The results revealed that cassava stalk soaking and foliage spraying with Zacha 11 formulation or Bacillus subtilis bioproduct could increase cassava growth at 60 days after planting under greenhouse conditions. Zacha 11 gave the tallest stem height (11.67 cm), the longest root length (18.91 cm) and the greatest number of roots (49.50). Fusarium root rot severity indices of all treated treatments were reduced, and were significantly lower than that of the water control. Plants treated with Zacha 11 and JN2-007 had disease severity reduction of 53.33 and 48.33%, respectively. Furthermore, all treatments increased the endogenous salicylic acid (SA) content in cassava plants at 24 inoculation with significant differences when compared to the untreated samples. The efficacy of Zacha 11 and JN2-007 was evaluated at two field locations, using two different cassava varieties, cv. Rayong 72 and CMR-89. The results showed that all elicitors could suppress root rot disease as well as bacterial leaf blight. Furthermore, the elicitors helped cassava plants cv. Rayong 72 and CMR-89 to increase tuber weight, yield and starch contents, compared to the water control. Thus, it is possible that these formulations could be effective in controlling diseases and increasing cassava productivity.

Keywords

• bacillus bioproduct
• cassava disease
• controlling
• growth promotion
• salicylic acid