Integrated computational and field approaches unveil nutrient foliar sprays as sustainable solutions for sugar beet powdery mildew management

Abstract

Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris var. saccharum, L.), a primary contributor to the worldwide sugar market, suffers severely from powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe betae , which reduces the photosynthetic efficiency and therewith yields. This study presents molecular docking analysis and randomized complete block design (RCBD) field trials with nutrient foliar sprays to identify disease management strategies. The interaction study in silico analysis using AutoDock Vina indicated tight-binding interactions of metal sulfates with the chitinase enzyme that degrades the fungal cell wall, where the metal sulfates MgSO 4 (-4.03 kcal/mol) and ZnSO 4 (-3.88 kcal/mol) exhibited significant inhibitory effects. Under natural infection conditions for field validation, a significant reduction in disease severity was observed using copper sulfate (81.56% reduction), comparable to a commercial fungicide. Foliar applications of nutrients improved agronomic traits. Root yield increased by 38% and total sugar yield by 90% compared to un-treated controls. Biochemical analysis revealed significantly enhanced defense responses, including elevated levels of total phenols (76% increase with Copper Sulphate), increased enzymatic activities (peroxidase up to 0.482 U/min/g and catalase up to 0.725 U/min/g), higher protein content (up to 11.29 mg/g), and enhanced proline accumulation (up to 3.54 mg/g) compared to controls. This study highlights the promise of nutrient foliar applications as an environmentally sustainable approach that could replace conventional fungicides to control powdery mildew in sugar beet production.

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