The effect of acibenzolar S-metil ester (ASM, Bion®), potassium phosfite (Hortifós PK®) and of a foliar fertilizer (Nutex Axcell®) was assessed on the spore germination and mycelial growth of Phoma costarricensis. The effect of these products on severity of Phoma leaf spot was also assessed on coffee seedlings. The percentage of conidial germination of P. costarricensis was not affected by doses of phosfite and ASM, but reductions on the mycelial growth of the fungus were detected. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and the disease severity were lower in all treatments compared to the inoculated control. There was a reduction of 50.9% on disease severity in plants treated with the standard fungicide tebuconazole. Low values for severity and AUDPC were observed when plants were treated with ASM 0.1 g/L; phosfite 2.5 mL/L; phosfite 5.0 mL/L and the fertilizer Nutex Axcell® at 4.0 mL/L, which differed from other treatments.
Coffea arabica; elicitors; Phoma costarricensis
