MANAGING CITRUS CANKER: EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTIBIOTICS AND CHEMICALS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Abstract

Citrus (family Rutaceae) stands as a prominent fruit crop on a global scale, bearing substantial significance. Renowned for its abundance of fiber, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamin C, and carbohydrates. However, the successful production of citrus is persistently challenged by the menacing presence of citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), posing 5-30% yield losses in Pakistan. Current study was aimed to manage Xcc through antibiotics and copper-based chemicals under lab. and field conditions. In vitro evaluations of antibiotics showed that Enrofloxacin expressed the maximum inhibition zone (35.68mm), followed by Enco-Mix (33.50mm), Pevivet-5 (33.48mm), Kanamycin sulphate (30.41mm), Sinobiotic (30.02mm), Streptomycin sulphate (29.33mm) and Gentam-20% (28.26mm) as compared to control. Field experiments of copper-based chemicals concluded that Copper nitrate exhibited the minimum disease incidence (16.07%), followed by Copper hydrooxide (21.78%), Amistar top (22.28%), Copper oxychloride (24.37%), and Copper acetate (24.63%), but Control expressed maximum disease incidence (65.00%). The mixture of Cu (NO2)3 + Enrofloxacin under field conditions was most effective regarding management of citrus canker. Current revelation appreciated the efficacy of Cu (NO2)3 + Enrofloxacin to manage citrus canker and strongly suggested this treatment against various bacterial pathogens.