Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sugarbeet and Potato Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269474
Title: Postharvest jasmonic acid treatment of sugarbeet roots reduces rot due to Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium claviforme, and Phoma betae

Author
item Fugate, Karen
item FERRAREZE, JOCLEITA - Universidade Federal De Vicosa
item Bolton, Melvin
item DECKARD, EDWARD - North Dakota State University
item Campbell, Larry

Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2011
Publication Date: 11/21/2011
Citation: Fugate, K.K., Ferrareze, J.P., Bolton, M.D., Deckard, E.L., Campbell, L.G. 2012. Postharvest jasmonic acid treatment of sugarbeet roots reduces rot due to Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium claviforme, and Phoma betae. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 65:1-4.

Interpretive Summary: Jasmonic acid (JA) is a natural plant hormone that activates plant defense mechanisms. JA and JA derivatives have been shown to protect a number of fruits and vegetables against storage diseases, although JA’s ability to protect sugarbeet roots against storage rot is unknown. To determine the potential of JA to reduce rot due to three common sugarbeet storage pathogens, harvested sugarbeet roots were treated with JA concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 µM JA, inoculated with Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium claviforme, or Phoma betae, and evaluated for the severity of rot symptoms after incubation at storage conditions that promote disease. All JA concentrations reduced rot due to all three pathogens. JA reduced rot due to B. cinerea and P. betae by an average of 51 and 71 %, respectively. Against P. claviforme, JA concentrations of 0.01 to 10 µM reduced rot by 44 %, while 100 µM JA reduced rot due to this pathogen by 65 %. Against all three pathogens, JA treatment did not prevent infection, but reduced rot by reducing the progression of disease symptoms in root tissue.

Technical Abstract: Although jasmonic acid (JA) and JA derivatives are known to activate plant defense mechanisms and provide protection against postharvest fungal diseases for several horticultural crops, JA’s ability to protect sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) roots against common causal organisms of storage rot is unknown. To determine the potential of JA to reduce rot due to three common sugarbeet storage pathogens, harvested roots were treated with JA concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, or 100 µM, inoculated with Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., Penicillium claviforme Bainier, or Phoma betae Frank, and evaluated for the severity of rot symptoms after incubation at 20 oC and 90 % relative humidity. JA concentrations of 0.01 to 100 µM significantly reduced rot due to all three pathogens. All concentrations of JA provided statistically equivalent control against B. cinerea and P. betae, and reduced the amount of rotted tissue due to these pathogens by an average of 51 and 71 %, respectively. Against P. claviforme, JA concentrations of 0.01 to 10 µM were equally effective and reduced rot by an average of 44 %, while an increase in JA concentration to 100 µM reduced rot by 65 %. Against all three pathogens, JA treatment did not affect the incidence of infection, but reduced rot by reducing the progression of disease symptoms in root storage tissue.