Evaluation of spray programmes for the management of leaf spot incited by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae on tomato cv. Cuore di bue

Four experimental trials were carried out in northern Italy under greenhouse conditions against bacterial leaf spot of tomato, incited by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, a disease recently observed in the country. The efficacy of spray programmes, based on the use of several copper-based compounds, acibenzolar-S-methyl, fosetyl Al and two biological control agents, Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 and Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA 342, was tested. The best results were obtained with the alternation of copper oxychloride, used alone or in mixture with acibenzolar-S-methyl, with acibenzolar-S-methyl, applied for a total of two sprays. Acibenzolar-S-methyl applied alone was also effective. However, due to its possible slight phytotoxic effect, observed in our case in one trial, strategies relying on a limited number of its application are preferred. The efficacy of acibenzolar-S-methyl is higher under lower inoculum conditions. Among the tested copper-based fungicides, copper oxychloride provided the best and most consistent results, with no or limited phytotoxicity. Other copper compounds were much less effective and sometimes caused a reduction in plant height. The disease suppression achieved with B. subtilis strain QST 713 was only partial, while P. chlororaphis was not effective. The advantages of programmes based on rotation of copper compounds and acibenzolar-S-methyl are discussed.