Strobilurins Seed Treatment Enhances Resistance of Common Bean Against B ean common mosaic virus

Commercial formulations of strobilurins (azoxystrobin, kresoxim‐methyl, trifloxystrobin and pyraclostrobin) were evaluated for their efficacy against B ean common mosaic virus ( BCMV ) in screenhouse and field conditions. Highest seed germination and seedling vigour were recorded with 20 μg/ml pyraclostrobin seed treatment in comparison with the control. In screenhouse studies, 76% protection against BCMV was recorded with pyraclostrobin seed treatment at 10 μg/ml. Under field conditions with natural BCMV inoculum, pyraclostrobin seed treatment resulted in 65% protection against BCMV . The protection offered by strobilurins against BCMV was evaluated by ELISA , with lowest immunoreactive values recorded in common bean seedlings raised from seeds treated with pyraclostrobin and kresoxim‐methyl. Strobilurins in addition to exerting a direct positive physiological effect on common bean plants also protect bean plants against BCMV infection in screen house and field conditions. Thus, it is proposed that these reduced‐risk pesticides are potential inducers against BCMV and growth enhancers and could be a beneficial component of integrated disease management of common bean.