Abstract Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) caused by Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is the most destructive bacterial disease affecting melon production in northeastern Brazil. Silicon (Si), which is widely recognized for suppressing plant diseases, has been proposed as a possible alternative for the control of BFB. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of slag fertilization on bacterial blotch development, soil chemical properties, plant growth and nutrition, and fruit quality. Melon hybrids AF 4945 and Medellin were grown in slag-fertilized (5.00 t ha-1) and non-fertilized plots, being inoculated with Ac 25 days after emergence. The slag fertilization significantly reduced the area under the disease progress curve (10%), disease index (14 %) and disease incidence in fruit (12%) at harvest, regardless of hybrid. Slag fertilization improved the soil fertility, plant growth and nutrition after 55 days of cultivation. Tissue analyses showed no differences in Si accumulation between the melon hybrids. However, AF 4945 accumulated more Ca and Zn than Medellin, which was associated with higher reduction in disease intensity. Also, slag treatment increased fruit flesh thickness (8%) and soluble solids (7%). Our study confirms that the supply of slag to the soil previously assessed under greenhouse studies can reduce the severity and incidence of melon BFB while improving fruit quality under field conditions.

中文翻译：

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矿渣硅肥提高大田条件下瓜类对细菌性果斑病的抗性和果实品质

摘要 瓜果酸（Ac）引起的细菌性果斑病（BFB）是影响巴西东北部甜瓜生产的最具破坏性的细菌病害。硅 (Si) 被广泛认为可抑制植物病害，已被提议作为控制 BFB 的可能替代品。进行了田间试验，以评估矿渣施肥对菌斑发育、土壤化学性质、植物生长和营养以及果实品质的影响。甜瓜杂种 AF 4945 和麦德林在渣施肥（5.00 t ha-1）和未施肥的地块中生长，在出苗后 25 天接种 Ac。渣施肥显着降低了收获时的病害进展曲线下面积 (10%)、病害指数 (14%) 和果实发病率 (12%)，无论是哪种杂交品种。经过55天的栽培，矿渣施肥提高了土壤肥力、植物生长和营养。组织分析表明甜瓜杂交种之间的 Si 积累没有差异。然而，AF 4945 比麦德林积累了更多的钙和锌，这与疾病强度的降低有关。此外，炉渣处理增加了果肉厚度 (8%) 和可溶性固体 (7%)。我们的研究证实，先前在温室研究中评估的土壤中的矿渣供应可以降低甜瓜 BFB 的严重程度和发生率，同时提高田间条件下的果实质量。这与疾病强度的降低有关。此外，炉渣处理增加了果肉厚度 (8%) 和可溶性固体 (7%)。我们的研究证实，先前在温室研究中评估的土壤中的矿渣供应可以降低甜瓜 BFB 的严重程度和发生率，同时提高田间条件下的果实质量。这与疾病强度的降低有关。此外，炉渣处理增加了果肉厚度 (8%) 和可溶性固体 (7%)。我们的研究证实，先前在温室研究中评估的土壤中的矿渣供应可以降低甜瓜 BFB 的严重程度和发生率，同时提高田间条件下的果实质量。