Efficiency of chitosan application against Phytophthora infestans and the activation of defence mechanisms in potato.

Late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most devastating diseases that results in huge losses of potato crops worldwide. Chitosan as a defence elicitor can induce plant innate immunity against pathogen infection, but the efficiency and specific defence mechanism of chitosan against late blight in potato have not been elaborated. In this study, we demonstrated that the application of chitosan significantly enhanced potato resistance and reduced P.