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Keywords:

  • Alternaria solani;
  • ASA;
  • BTH;
  • Erysiphe cichoracearum;
  • Fusarium semitectum;
  • systemic resistance;
  • tuber disease

Benzothiadiazole (BTH), as Bion WG50, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) treatments of potato foliage of field- and glasshouse-grown potato plants were compared for control of two foliar diseases, early blight (Alternaria solani) and powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum). The effect of these treatments on harvested tubers wound-inoculated with the dry rot fungus (Fusarium semitectum) was also evaluated. BTH (50 mg a.i. L−1) gave almost complete control of both foliar pathogens on inoculated glasshouse-grown plants and reduced the severity of leaf spotting diseases (mainly early blight) in the field. BTH (100 mg a.i. L−1) and ASA (400 mg a.i. L−1) reduced the severity of dry rot in field-grown tubers in some post-harvest wound-inoculated treatments but not others and a similar reduction occurred with tubers inoculated post-harvest from BTH-treated plants grown under glasshouse conditions. BTH treatment increased β-1,3-glucanase activity in leaves > stem > tubers > stolons but not in roots. Increased enzyme activity was recorded for up to 45 days post-treatment.