title: Effect of chitosan solution on the inhibition of Acidovorax citrulli causing bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The production of watermelon in China has been seriously hampered by fruit blotch disease and limited control measures are now applied. Chitosan has been employed to control a variety of plant diseases and is considered to be the most promising biochemical to control this disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in vitro antibacterial effect of chitosan and its ability in protection of watermelon seedlings from bacterial fruit blotch were evaluated. Results showed that three types of chitosan, in particular, chitosan A at 0.40 mg mL⁻¹ significantly inhibited the growth of Acidovorax citrulli. The antibacterial activity of chitosan A was affected by chitosan concentration and incubation time. The direct antibacterial activity of chitosan may be attributed to membrane lysis evidenced by transmission electron microscopic observation. The disease index of watermelon seedlings planted in soil and the death rate of seedlings planted in perlite were significantly reduced by chitosan A at 0.40 mg mL⁻¹ compared to the pathogen control. Fresh and dry weight of watermelon seedlings planted in soil was increased by chitosan seed treatment, but not by chitosan leaf spraying.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that chitosan solution may have a potential in controlling bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Shi
authors: Changlin
authors: C
authors: Shan
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Ibrahim
authors: Yanli
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Guoxing
authors: G
authors: Wu
authors: Hongye
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Guanlin
authors: G
authors: Xie
authors: Guochang
authors: G
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D016573:Agrochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002681:China; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029773:Citrullus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D042621:Comamonadaceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D016573:Agrochemicals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012987:Soil; C003076:Perlite; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D048271:Chitosan; D000537:Aluminum Oxide