Induction of resistance in mungbean against cercospora leaf spot through plant defense activators

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek), is a popular short-duration legume crop which is mostly cultivated in South and Southeast Asian countries. It is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and fibers. As an important source of dietary protein, it is usually consumed as whole seed or flour, or as sprouts. Cercospora Leaf Spot of Mungbean (CLSM) is a destructive disease caused by Cercospora canescens, which affects the whole crop, and causing 95% of yield losses. To mitigate these yield losses, five plant defense activators dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4), salicylic acid, carboxylic acid, citric acid, and benzoic acid were used in current study with 3 different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75%) in a field trial arranged in randomized complete block design. Our field experiments revealed salicylic acid treated plants with minimum disease incidence (21.798%) followed by citric acid (25.131%), dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (27.466%), benzoic acid (29.064%), and carboxylic acid (35.043%) compared to untreated check. This revelation suggested the salicylic acid as a potent antifungal agent by activating the Mungbean defense systems for the management of CLSM.