Strong coupling of excited heavy mesons

We compute the strong coupling constant GB**B{π} (GD**D{π}), where B** (D**) is the 0⁺ P-wave bq{} (cq{}) state, by QCD sum rules and by light-cone sum rules. The two methods give compatible results in the limit mQ{→}{∞}, with a rather large value of the coupling constant. We apply the results to the calculation of the hadronic widths of the positive parity B and D states and to the chiral loop contribution to the ratio fDs/fD.