Foliar Spray of Benzothiadiazole and Salicylic Acid on Brassica Juncea Var. Rlm619 To Combat Alternaria Blight in Field Trials

Induction of some defense related enzymes and phenolics in the leaves of 11 and 12 week old Brassica juncea var. RLM619 plants treated with elicitors, Benzothiadiazole (BTH) alone and in combination with salicylic acid (SA) against the severity of Alternaria blight disease were investigated. Two treatments, each with combinations of BTH and SA viz, C1 (3.3ppm BTH + 33.3ppm SA) and C2 (6.6ppm BTH + 16.6ppm SA) were applied once a week after the plants attained the age of 10 weeks. BTH @ 10ppm served as control. Of the two combinations tried, C1 showed significant increase in the activity of Peroxidase (PO), Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and Superoxide dismutase (SOD). Maximum increase in the activities of these defense related enzymes and phenolic content was observed in 11 and 12 week old plants. Treatment with both the combinations (C1 and C2) resulted in increase in the yield and oilseed content of RLM619as compared to control. The study suggested that combinations of elicitors played significant role in eliciting the defense related enzymes and phenolics which may help in reduction of disease severity by empowering the plant to restrict the invasion of Alternaria brassicae in Brassica juncea.