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International Congress BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS - Gruppo di ...

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33<br />

INVESTIGATIONS ON THE BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF SOME NATURAL <strong>PRODUCTS</strong><br />

Varvaro L., M. Antonelli, G. M. Balestra, A. Fabi, D. Scermino e G. Vuono<br />

Dipartimento <strong>di</strong> Protezione delle Piante, Università degli Stu<strong>di</strong> della Tuscia,<br />

Via S. Camillo de Lellis, 01100, Viterbo, Italy<br />

The Council Regulation (EEC) no. 2092/91 shows the rules on organic production in agriculture to ensure both<br />

consumers and producers. The products for plant protection (copper compounds, propolis and so<strong>di</strong>um silicate) are listed<br />

in the Annex II part B of this regulation. The main chemicals used in organic agriculture to control bacterial plant<br />

<strong>di</strong>seases are cupric compounds. The last EEC Regulation (Reg. no. 473/2002) limits the use of copper and force the<br />

researchers to study new way in controlling bacterial <strong>di</strong>seases. The utilization of natural substances, such as propolis<br />

and so<strong>di</strong>um silicate, is one way susceptible to be investigated in order to better know their bactericidal or bacteriostatic<br />

effect on some host pathogen interactions.<br />

In particular, the activity of propolis and so<strong>di</strong>um silicate, alone or in association with <strong>di</strong>fferent copper<br />

compounds, were in vitro stu<strong>di</strong>ed toward a large number of phytopathogenic bacterial strains, both Gram positive and<br />

Gram negative. Furthermore, some in vivo tests were performed against some bacterial <strong>di</strong>seases of tomato, by spraying<br />

commercial products containing propolis and so<strong>di</strong>um silicate and on hazelnut using copper compounds. In vitro results<br />

show that propolis is active against the growth of the most of Gram positive bacterial strains, even at relatively low<br />

concentrations, while it is very poorly active on almost all essayed Gram negative ones. Antagonistic action of so<strong>di</strong>um<br />

silicate resulted evident only at high concentrations; in particular a certain in vitro inhibition was detected on<br />

Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato the agent of bacterial speck of tomato, but it was not confirmed by in vivo tests. An<br />

inhibitory effect on epiphytic populations of Xanthomonas vesicatoria, the agent of bacterial spot of tomato, was<br />

observed till to 7 days after the treatment. So<strong>di</strong>um silicate was able to control also epiphytic populations of Clavibacter<br />

michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, the agent of bacterial canker of tomato. The in vitro and in vivo stu<strong>di</strong>es on the<br />

effect of <strong>di</strong>fferent copper compounds in controlling phytopathogenic bacteria showed some interesting results. Copper<br />

oxychloride and new chemicals, like tri-basic copper sulphate or pentahydrate copper sulphate, were sprayed on<br />

hazelnut plants showing <strong>di</strong>eback symptoms. The obtained results confirmed the preventive bactericidal effect of copper<br />

oxychloride against the pathogens and, moreover, pointed out the good effectiveness of the pentahydrate copper<br />

sulphate. In fact, even if this last compound is characterized by a copper concentration five time lower than the copper<br />

oxychloride, and although it has been sprayed at reduced field-doses, it gave the same results in controlling the hazelnut<br />

<strong>di</strong>sease.<br />

All results showed that propolis and so<strong>di</strong>um silicate could be useful in controlling epiphytic bacterial<br />

populations of some phytopathogenic bacteria on tomato, especially in organic agriculture. On the other hand, copper is<br />

confirmed to be used to <strong>di</strong>minish the populations of phytopathogenic bacteria and to reduce in such a way the <strong>di</strong>sease<br />

<strong>di</strong>ffusion. The opportunity to successfully use chemical products characterized by low copper concentration is important<br />

to safeguard the environment and the human health.<br />

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