Resistance Induced in Potato Tubers by Treatment with Acetylsalicylic Acid to Soft Rot Produced by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) at concentrations of 0.0125, 0.025, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05% (w/v) pH 7 does not inhibit bacterial growth of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora ‐225 (Ecc‐225); without pH adjustment at concentrations of 0.025 and 0.03%, little inhibition of bacterial growth was observed. However, above 0.04% inhibition was total. When studying the action of acetylsalicylic acid in the soft rot induced by Ecc‐225 on tubers stored at 4 C, we observed that treatments with this compound at concentrations of 0.0125, 0.025 and 0.05% in water adjusted to pH 7, were able to produce a considerable reduction of the soft rot; the possibility of a causal relationship between acetylsalicylic acid treatments of potato tubers and inhibition of soft rot has been established.