Potassium phosphite: a promising product in the management of diseases caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in coffee plants

Abstract

In recent years coffee productivity has been harmed by diseases caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Cg), for example, anthracnose, dieback and blister spot. Therefore, it has become necessary to develop alternative measures to control these diseases, since there are no fungicides registered in Brazil for their control. The aims of this work were: to evaluate the effect of potassium phosphite on the germination, fungal appressorium formation and mycelial growth of Cg and to verify this action in the reduction of disease severity of anthracnose in coffee leaves. The treatments used in an in vitro experiment were: potassium phosphite at doses of 1.25, 2.50, 5.0 and 10.0 mL.L-1, Acibenzolar-S-methyl at dose 0.1g.L-1 and Chlorothalonil fungicide at dose 2.0 g.L-1. In an in vivo experiment, beyond the treatments used in the in vitro experiment, we used a control sprayed with water without inoculation and another inoculated with Cg. Potassium phosphite at doses of 5.0 mL.L-1 and 10.0 mL.L-1 and the Chlorotalonil fungicide showed greater inhibition of conidial germination, greater inhibition of appressorium formation and further reduction of mycelial growth of the pathogen. In the in vivo experiment, Potassium phosphite at a dose of 10.0 mL.L-1 provided a greater reduction in disease severity, around 62.5%. This work demonstrated the potential of potassium phosphite in the management of diseases caused by fungi from the Colletotrichum complex in coffee plants.