An evaluation of organic biostimulants as a tool for the sustainable management of viral infections in zucchini plants

In agriculture, new and sustainable strategies are increasingly demanded to integrate the traditional management of viral diseases based on the use of virus-free propagation materials and resistant or tolerant cultivars and on the control of insect vectors. Among the possible Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, organic biostimulants have shown promising results in enhancing plant tolerance to virus infections by improving plant fitness and productivity and modulating metabolic functions. In this study, the combination of two organic biostimulants, Alert D-Max and Resil EVO Q, composed of seaweed and alfalfa extracts, enzymatic hydrolysates, and micronized zeolite, was applied on the leaves and roots of zucchini squashes, both healthy and infected by zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). Four applications were scheduled based on ZYMV inoculation timing, and plant vegetative and reproductive parameters were recorded along with the virus titre and symptom severity. The modulation of the expression of specific genes potentially involved in pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and oxidative stress defence pathways was also investigated. Besides increasing the general fitness of the healthy plants, the biostimulants significantly improved the production of flowers and fruits of the infected plants, with a potential positive impact on their productivity. The repeated biostimulant applications also led to a one-tenth reduction in ZYMV titre over time and induced a progressive slowdown of symptom severity. Genes associated with SAR and PTI were up-regulated after biostimulant applications, suggesting the biostimulant-based priming of plant defence mechanisms. Due to the observed beneficial effects, the tested biostimulant mix can be an effective component of the IPM of cucurbit crops, acting as a sustainable practice for enhancing plant fitness and tolerance to potyviruses.