Plantain Bananas PIF Seedlings Treatment with Liquid Extracts of Tithonia diversifolia Induces Resistance to Black Sigatoka Disease

Plantain bananas culture encounters the\r\nproblems of seedlings quantity and quality unavailability. Black Sigatoka Disease\r\n(BSD) is one of the main pathological constraints of banana that can severely\r\nreduce the photosynthetic leaf area, leading to the losses of production of\r\nabout 50% in banana plantation. The use of liquid extracts of Tithonia diversifolia could potentially induced the resistance of the PIF\r\nseedlings to BSD during the vegetative stages in the nursery. The aim of this\r\nwork was to evaluate the effect of Tithonia diversifolia liquid extracts against\r\nthe development of BSD on the PIF plantain bananas seedlings. The explants in\r\nthe greenhouse and the seedlings in the shade were watered with liquid extracts\r\nof T. diversifolia during the process of PIF seedling production in\r\nsterile and non-sterile conditions. The treated seedlings show a more effective\r\nenhancement of seedlings quality parameters and also induce resistance against\r\nBSD. The vegetative stages parameters (the number of shoots, the diameter and\r\nthe height of shoots, the foliar area, the length and weight roots) were\r\nimproved in treated seedlings compared to controls ones. The treated seedlings\r\nshowed maximum protection against BSD of up to 87% compared to controls. They\r\nalso exhibited an increase in the accumulation of total proteins and total\r\nphenolics, as well as the activity of defense-related enzymes (peroxidase,\r\npolyphenol oxidase and glucanase). The treatment seems to acts as a vital stimulator and could therefore be a useful tool\r\nfor small holder farmers favouring an eco-friendly agriculture using fewer\r\nsynthetic inputs.