Orobanche foetida control in faba bean by foliar application of Benzothiadiazole (BTH) and Salicylic Acid

Abstract

Orobanche foetida is considered as an important agricultural problem of faba bean production in Tunisia. The effect of salicylic acid SA and 1, 2, 3-Benzothiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid, S-methyl ester (BTH) as foliar application on the induction of faba bean resistance to O. foetida was studied. Foliar application of 1 mM SA or 0.05 g/l BTH reduced broomrape infection under controlled conditions in pot and Petri dish experiments. In pot experiment, SA and BTH applications reduced the total number of faba bean broomrape by 46.45% and 77.06%, respectively, and the dry weight of broomrape by 47.03% and 70.3%, respectively. In Petri dish experiment, O. foetida seed germination was reduced by 33.8% and 48.3%, respectively. Foliar application of SA and BTH demonstrate that the induced resistance to O. foetida is systemic. These results demonstrate that SAR is capable of being an important method to control broomrapes and to form an integrated control strategy leading to reduce soil infestation by Orobanche.