Use of chemical pesticides in plant/crop protection are becoming regulated and restricted due to their severe adverse impact on environment and human health. However, productivity, profitability and competitiveness of agriculture and forestry must increase at the same time. Pesticides though have been a major factor contributing to the increased crop yields in modern agriculture, but associated problems of environmental degradation that in turn has a marked influence on the economy, health and quality of life have become issue of global concern. Furthermore, resistant strains of pathogens rapidly arise to many new systemic pesticides and generation of new pesticides is becoming more complex and expensive. The difficulty of developing ecofriendly pest control agents has increased their cost and reduced their number that is available. At this crucial juncture, providing alternative means of disease control that are effective and economical and could reduce the dependence on pesticides has become warrantable. Hence, the question emerge – like human beings, is it possible to immunize plants in early stages to induce a stronger self defense capacity against pest and diseases?
Dear Yogesh
With respect to plant diseases, it is possible to induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR) by prior treatment of a host plant with either a biological or chemical agent.The plant builds up some defense against future attack by pathogens.
In virology, this practice is called cross protection. This is whereby a crop is inoculated with a mild strain of a particular virus so that it (the crop) is protected from subsequent infection by a more severe strain of the same virus.
There is also some evidence (don't have the references on hand) that you can "prime" the next generation by exposing the adult plant to a disease. Some level of immunity is carried over.
An application of BTH on monocots should be enough to protect annual plants (e.g. grains) by fungal diseases and likely by some insects (there is at least one paper that correlates the two kinds of resistance, If needed I can find it). Someone tells that for this reason BTH is not registered on such plants.
Thanks a lot to all the four respondents. I want know further that "Is there any known formulation comprising growth promoting agents, micronutrients, and protecting substance with broad spectrum efficacy against pest & diseases which can be applied as buster dose in the potting mixture while raising plant in the nursery or in the soil while transplanting the plant in the field". If such a formation exists or could be developed, it would be great help to the poor farmers and plant growers.
We had good results in the control of Phytophtora root rot of citrus applying chitosan, it stimulated plant growth, although we did not investigate effects on other diseases/insects. Usually resistance inducers provides a short term protection, but it would be great if it could be extended after transplanting.
My colleagues made long-term experiments with potato, tomato, and brassicas immunization by a number of chemicals and microbes. They have found high physiological cost of immunization at early stage of plant growth and sharp decrease of plant immunity at late stage. My own experience showed an important role of plant genotype and soil & weather conditions in outcome of immunization.
Dear YOGESH CHANDRA TRIPATHI
Plant immunization against viruses is well known as cross-protection, Genetically induced silence is also currently used by viruses, RNAi
Best Regards
I agree with Prof. Houda. Thanks Prof. Yogesh for always steering up discussions on the protection or conservation of the flora species in nature！ God bless you for saving our diversities of flora species via your intelligent questions and research. Best regards
Dickson Adom
We have an experience with control of ZYMV by using Cross Protection
technique . It was very effective in the green house but it was less in nature in the open field on squash . I think more work is needed on this aspect .
I have applied 3-4g of Bevistin (Carbendazim) per litre water at the early stage of rice seedling (as such the soil became wet) and found very less blast disease development in rice later on even after artificial inoculation.
Yes it is possible to “immunize” the plants by using the so called elicitors. They are manly used to protect plants against diseases. Among elicitors available on the market you have: Stifénia, Milsana (both derived from plants) Oryzemate, Bion, Actigard (derivative of salicylates and other molecules), Iodus (marine algae), Messenger (proteins from bacteria), Elaxa (polysaccharides). Ref. Stratégie de défense des plantes contre les maladies et les parasites (et quelques application pratiques), available on RG.
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