Use of silicon and bordeaux mixture on the severity of the common beans bacterial blight and anthracnose

Abstract

Traditional disease control methods for common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) involve the intensive use of pesticides, leading to a demand for more sustainable practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of silicon and bordeaux mixture on the severity of common bacterial blight, anthracnose and common bean productivity. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Federal University of Fronteira Sul - Cerro Largo campus (RS), using a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments included foliar application (at the R5 and R7 growth stages) of silicon, fungicide (Trifloxystrobin + Prothioconazole), silicon + fungicide, bordeaux mixture, and control group without any application. Disease severity was assessed using a diagrammatic scale on leaves in the lower and upper middle thirds of the plants, as well as on pods. The use of bordeaux mixture, silicon, fungicide and silicon + fungicide significantly reduced the severity of bacterial blight on the leaves by 57 to 93% in the lower middle third, while bordeaux mixture and silicon + fungicide reduced bacterial blight severity on the pods by 70 to 80% compared to the control. As for anthracnose, the severity on the upper middle third of the leaves was lower with the application of silicon and bordeaux mixture but had no significant influence on the pods. The application of fungicide, silicon + fungicide and bordeaux mixture increased bean productivity. The use of bordeaux mixture represents an alternative method for disease control compared to fungicides, proving to be efficient in disease control and enhancing the grain productivity of common beans.