The efficiency of a formulated salicylic acid (Zacha 11, 500 mg · l–1) and a Bacillus bioproduct
(JN2-007, 1 × 107 cfu · ml–1) in controlling cassava root rot disease and enhancing growth
was evaluated. The results revealed that cassava stalk soaking and foliage spraying with
Zacha 11 formulation or Bacillus subtilis bioproduct could increase cassava growth at
60 days after planting under greenhouse conditions. Zacha 11 gave the tallest stem height
(11.67 cm), the longest root length (18.91 cm) and the greatest number of roots (49.50).
Fusarium root rot severity indices of all treated treatments were reduced, and were significantly
lower than that of the water control. Plants treated with Zacha 11 and JN2-007
had disease severity reduction of 53.33 and 48.33%, respectively. Furthermore, all treatments
increased the endogenous salicylic acid (SA) content in cassava plants at 24 inoculation
with significant differences when compared to the untreated samples. The efficacy of
Zacha 11 and JN2-007 was evaluated at two field locations, using two different cassava varieties,
cv. Rayong 72 and CMR-89. The results showed that all elicitors could suppress root
rot disease as well as bacterial leaf blight. Furthermore, the elicitors helped cassava plants
cv. Rayong 72 and CMR-89 to increase tuber weight, yield and starch contents, compared to
the water control. Thus, it is possible that these formulations could be effective in controlling
diseases and increasing cassava productivity.