The use of choline 5‐chlorosalicylate in sugar beet cultivation

Abstract The search for sustainable alternatives to conventional pesticides has intensified due to the increasing restrictions on plant protection products (PPPs) within the European Union, particularly under the Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims to reduce PPP use by 50% by 2030. Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers offer multiple advantages over conventional PPPs and are increasingly regarded as promising replacements. In this context, we investigated the potential of a novel ionic derivative of salicylic acid previously developed within our research group, named choline 5‐chlorosalicylate, for the control of Cercospora beticola , the causal agent of Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) in sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L.). The use of choline 5‐chlorosalicylate (5‐ClSal Chol) significantly reduced CLS severity relative to the untreated control. Moreover, its application resulted in a technological sugar yield that did not differ significantly from that obtained with fungicide (2 times). These findings support further evaluation of 5‐ClSal Chol as a complementary component of reduced‐fungicide strategies under field conditions.