TITLE:
Plantain Bananas PIF Seedlings Treatment with Liquid Extracts of Tithonia diversifolia Induces Resistance to Black Sigatoka Disease
AUTHORS:
Robinson Nembot Tatsegouock, Cécile Annie Ewané, Arouna Meshuneke, Thaddée Boudjeko
KEYWORDS:
Plantain Banana, PIF Seedlings, Tithonia diversifolia, Black Sigatoka Disease, Induced Resistance, Vital Stimulator
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.5,
May
18,
2020
ABSTRACT: Plantain bananas culture encounters the
problems of seedlings quantity and quality unavailability. Black Sigatoka Disease
(BSD) is one of the main pathological constraints of banana that can severely
reduce the photosynthetic leaf area, leading to the losses of production of
about 50% in banana plantation. The use of liquid extracts of Tithonia diversifolia could potentially induced the resistance of the PIF
seedlings to BSD during the vegetative stages in the nursery. The aim of this
work was to evaluate the effect of Tithonia diversifolia liquid extracts against
the development of BSD on the PIF plantain bananas seedlings. The explants in
the greenhouse and the seedlings in the shade were watered with liquid extracts
of T. diversifolia during the process of PIF seedling production in
sterile and non-sterile conditions. The treated seedlings show a more effective
enhancement of seedlings quality parameters and also induce resistance against
BSD. The vegetative stages parameters (the number of shoots, the diameter and
the height of shoots, the foliar area, the length and weight roots) were
improved in treated seedlings compared to controls ones. The treated seedlings
showed maximum protection against BSD of up to 87% compared to controls. They
also exhibited an increase in the accumulation of total proteins and total
phenolics, as well as the activity of defense-related enzymes (peroxidase,
polyphenol oxidase and glucanase). The treatment seems to acts as a vital stimulator and could therefore be a useful tool
for small holder farmers favouring an eco-friendly agriculture using fewer
synthetic inputs.