ABSTRACT
The passion fruit (Passiflora spp.) bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. passiflorae is one of the major diseases that affects the culture. To obtain varieties resistant to this bacterium, several inoculation methods should be tested. The objective of this study was to evaluate different methods of Xanthomonas campestris pv. passiflorae inoculation in passion fruits and to evaluate the inhibitory effect of biofertilizers on bacterial growth in vitro. Seven passion fruit genotypes were inoculated with a bacterial suspension (1x108 CFU.mL-1) by spraying, scissors and tweezers. The biofertilizers Agro-Mos, Cop-R-Quik, FitoForce Plus and Soil-Set were evaluated for bacterial growth inhibition in vitro. Spraying was the most practical and rapid inoculation method, in relation to the others, in obtaining the disease symptoms, and all evaluated genotypes were susceptible to Xanthomonas campestris pv. passiflorae. The biofertilizers FitoForce Plus and Soil-Set inhibited Xanthomonas campestris pv. passiflorae growth in vitro and should be evaluated for the bacterium control under field conditions.
Keywords
Bacteria spot; Passiflora edulis; Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa,; genetic resistance