The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal effect of a copper, zinc, and sulphur-based foliar fertilizer on the growth of Phytophthora citrophthora in PDA culture medium under controlled conditions, and to compare it with a commercial copper-based fungicide and a sulphur treatment. To this end, ?poisoned? media were prepared by adding the fertilizer at different doses (2, 3, and 4 cm³ L⁻¹), and the fungicide (2.5 cm³ L⁻¹) was used as a negative control. A positive control (untreated) and three sulphur doses (74.4, 111.6, and 148.8 mg L⁻¹) were also included. The media were poured into Petri dishes before being inoculated with P. citrophthora mycelium. Seven and fifteen days after inoculation, the mycelial growth radio on the plates was determined, and the percentage of inhibition was calculated relative to the positive control. Mycelial growth was lower in the fertilized medium compared to the positive control, exhibiting a significant reduction with increasing fertilizer concentration in the medium. Similarly, the percentage of growth inhibition increased with increasing applied dose. Despite of this, no fungicidal effect was observed with the application of the fertilizer. The results showed that fertilizer application had a fungistatic effect on the growth of P. citrophthora under controlled conditions. This suggests that foliar fertilization could be a complementary strategy in the integrated management of diseases caused by Phytophthora spp.

Moreno‑Lora A., Aguado A., Arenas‑Arenas F.J. (2025). La fertilización foliar como potencial herramienta de manejo para el control de Phytophthora citrophthora en cítricos. ITEA‑Información Técnica Económica Agraria 121(4): 354-367. https://doi.org/10.12706/itea.2025.012

Este trabajo fue financiado bajo el convenio de colaboración entre la empresa IBERMEM BIOTECH S.A. y el Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA).