Asprin to combat blight???

[clkeiper]

I just ran across this article and was wondering if anyone has done seen or tried this? does it work?
I thought it was an interesting and very economical preventative try and if it doesn't work you can always just take the asprin yourself to combat the headache of the blight, huh?
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home...-tomato-blight

[ChrisK]

There are essentially no good peer reviewed studies of aspiring application effect in gardens. Salicylic acid (and acetylsalicylic acid i.e. aspirin) are known to activate defense pathways but most studies are done under lab conditions to decipher molecular pathways. The situation is entirely different in a garden.

[clkeiper]

Thanks Chris, that is why I asked. I have never heard of it and thought maybe I would (if I can ever remember to) try it.

[RayR]

This has been discussed before on TVille.

Aspirin

Aspirin and Plants, How it works

There is plenty of stuff to read about it on Google Scholar

[ChrisK]

Again, there is little or no direct evidence for its effect on whole plants in a garden setting. Most of what you will find is lab based molecular analysis. If you can find a good real world study please post it.

Originally Posted by RayR

This has been discussed before on TVille.

Aspirin

Aspirin and Plants, How it works

There is plenty of stuff to read about it on Google Scholar

[Courtgreenhous]

I have tested this theory over a couple of years in a garden setting with a wet, warm climate and would have to say there are a few merits to this. I believe the theory is quite sound that it does activate a systemic acquired response or SAR. The leaf of the plant in question appears less permeable to spores and it feels leathery in compare to control. I would tell everyone to make up their own mind and am by no means telling everyone that this is for sure a great thing to use for dieases and blight. I have read that the application rate that would achieve this is close to the rate which might hurt a plant, though I have not used more than the dose I started out with. Basically in my experience it slows diseases ability to take hold, and is quite effective as a preventative measure. It isn't something that is going to save your plant, which might be infected with whatever...say powdery mildew...however, if applied early on it seems to reduce the likelihood that would occur. I would also contend and welcome criticism that this may be an effective preventative measure to prevent TMV spores, other viruses etc. from taking hold.

[RayR]

Originally Posted by Courtgreenhous

I have tested this theory over a couple of years in a garden setting with a wet, warm climate and would have to say there are a few merits to this. I believe the theory is quite sound that it does activate a systemic acquired response or SAR. The leaf of the plant in question appears less permeable to spores and it feels leathery in compare to control. I would tell everyone to make up their own mind and am by no means telling everyone that this is for sure a great thing to use for dieases and blight. I have read that the application rate that would achieve this is close to the rate which might hurt a plant, though I have not used more than the dose I started out with. Basically in my experience it slows diseases ability to take hold, and is quite effective as a preventative measure. It isn't something that is going to save your plant, which might be infected with whatever...say powdery mildew...however, if applied early on it seems to reduce the likelihood that would occur. I would also contend and welcome criticism that this may be an effective preventative measure to prevent TMV spores, other viruses etc. from taking hold.

That's interesting that you noticed a physical change in the leaf.
What rate of application and frequency have you used?
Did you apply any other fungal disease preventatives or any other foliar sprays?

[Courtgreenhous]

Exact recipe used was 2 Bayer Aspirin filtered through coffee filters in a 2Liter Sprayer - Apply twice per month every other week. The SAR response lasts for awhile. NO other anti-fungals or fungicides were used.

[Gardadore]

Did you notice any difference in the tomato production or size?

[Courtgreenhous]

I noticed a difference in the total tomato count or product, yes, but size definitely no.

[amideutch]

Courtgreenhous, thanks for the informative posts. Aspirin has been used for years as a foliar for plants and the folks found that it did lead to healthier plants with less disease issues. Later the scientists started doing research as to the how and why of aspirin which led us to Salicylic acid and the effects it had on the plants systemic acquired response or SAR.

Not only did they find that it helped protect the plant from disease by closing the stomata on the plant leaves not allowing the fungal spores to enter but also found that the same thing happened when the plant was subjected to drought stress as closing the spores helped the plant retain moisture.

Ami

[Courtgreenhous]

Originally Posted by amideutch

Courtgreenhous, thanks for the informative posts. Aspirin has been used for years as a foliar for plants and the folks found that it did lead to healthier plants with less disease issues. Later the scientists started doing research as to the how and why of aspirin which led us to Salicylic acid and the effects it had on the plants systemic acquired response or SAR.

Not only did they find that it helped protect the plant from disease by closing the stomata on the plant leaves not allowing the fungal spores to enter but also found that the same thing happened when the plant was subjected to drought stress as closing the spores helped the plant retain moisture.

Ami

Ami that makes a lot of sense. I came to the same conclusion about closing the stomata. It did not occur to me that drought stress was an added bonus.

[ChrisK]

Just posted a recent review on SAR in the Winter Reading thread if you are interested in the mechanism of defense.