Effect of foliar ethanol application on Septoria leaf blotch in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L)

Foliar applications of alcohols have been reported to have remarkable benefits on yields of several crops. The toxifying characteristics of alcohols for many microorganisms may also potentially be of use in crop protection. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine if foliar-applied ethanol was effective against Septoria nodorum, the causal agent of leaf and glume blotch in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). Ethanol (30 % and 60 %) decreased the disease symptoms on the leaves of wheat significantly when applied one day after the inoculation, although reductions in disease severity were still observed until 4 days after the inoculation. In contrast, ethanol treatments before inoculation did not affect, or occasionally even enhanced, the disease development. On agar plate assay, the average sensitivity of S. nodorum on ethanol was high, as no reduction in its growth was observed at incubation times less than 10 or 20 min in 60 % or 30 % ethanol, respectively. Ethanol treatments did not damage the treated leaves, but a slight reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content as measured by SPAD values was observed. Ethanol application whether alone or with inoculation did not increase wheat kernel weights.