Evaluation of acibenzolar-S-methyl and azoxystrobin on the control of blossom end rot in processing tomato cultivated under two different water regimes

Blossom end rot is a physiological disorder caused by calcium deficiency and water imbalance that causes significant production losses in tomato. Acibenzolar-Smethyl and azoxystrobin are two common agrochemicals that have been shown to increase plant tolerance or resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought. The aim of this study was to evaluate their effect on the control of tomato blossom end rot. Processing tomatoes were grown in an open field in 2015 under two irrigation regimes (100 and 75%) and six chemical treatments of acibenzolar-S-methyl and azoxystrobin were applied in different spray programs. The 75% irrigation regime significantly increased blossom end rot incidence regardless of the chemical applications. On the other hand, a positive effect of drenching nursery trays in acibenzolar-S-methyl followed by foliar sprays of acibenzolar-S-methyl and azoxystrobin in reducing blossom end rot incidence was observed under both irrigation regimes.