Exogenous application of salicylic acid in yellow passion fruit for the control of fruit woodiness virus

Abstract

The effect of salicylic acid (SA) was evaluated in control of Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV), which induces hardening of the fruits of passion fruit (EFM). Also, its influence on the expression of symptoms and the activation of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidases were evaluated. The experiment was designed and conducted in a completely random way. The treatments consisted of SA (2.5 mM) and control (10% ethanol), applied 12 hours before mechanical inoculation of CABMV, the causal agent of EFM in Brazil. A similar experiment was conducted under the same conditions, but four applications were performed weekly after CABMV mechanical inoculation. In both experiments a rating scale ranging from 0 to 3 was used to assess the severity of the disease. To evaluate the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase, the plants were treated (SA and control) and, after 12 hours, inoculated with isolated CABMV. Leaf samplings were performed at 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the treatments (HAT), processed and analyzed in a spectrophotometer to verify the activation of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. At 30 days after inoculation (DAI), the SA applied once promoted reduction of 57.1% of the severity, when compared with the control. In plants subjected to SA weekly applications, it was found a significantly reduction in the expression of symptoms at 45 DAI. In the biochemical assays, a significant increase in peroxidase in 12-hour intervals (DAI)/24 hours (HAT) was observed. For polyphenol oxidase, a significant increase of its activity was observed at 24 hour intervals (DAI)/48 hours (HAT). It is suggested that SA may represent an additional tool in the management of EFM.