Effect of Treating Pepper with Benzothiadiazole Derivative and Non-pathogenic Xanthomonas campestris Pathovars on the Level of Disease Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

1 Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the effect of CGA 245704 (a Benzothiadiazole derivative) and two non-pathogenic Xanthomonas campestris strains on white mold disease of pepper caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Pretreatment of pepper seedlings with the bacterial strains did not reduce the disease severity of white mold. Application of CGA 245704 followed by a subsequent inoculation of the plants with the fungus resulted in significant decrease in disease severity. No inhibition of ascospore germination of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum isolate Ss6 but reduced germ tube length, radial growth of mycelium and number of sclerotia on culture medium amended with CGA 245704 was observed. The decrease in disease severity following treatment with CGA 245704 might be the result of both resistance induction and fungistatic effect.