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Book of Abstracts

11th IFOAM
Scientific Conference
11-15 August 1996
Copenhagen, Denmark


Abstract front page
Subject index
Athor index

Special Presentations

Plant health: Francis Chaboussou's Research F2

Aubert, Claude

Centre Ecologique Europeen Terre Vivante, Domaine de Raud, BP 20, F - 38710 Mens, France

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The studies made by Francis Chaboussou (died in 1985), researcher for INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) from 1933 to 1976, made a key contribution to the understanding of the relationship between soil and plant health. Francis Chaboussou identified an essential mechanism that he named trophobiosis. According to this concept, plant susceptibility to pest or disease attack and the level of proliferation or development are directly related to the biochemical state of the plant. Pests and diseases develop actually only when the plant biochemical state offers the required nutritional needs. Several experiences carried out by Francis Chaboussou and other researchers have further confirmed this concept. In fact, it seems that soluble substances - amino-acids and carbohydrates reducers - present in the plant tissues stimulate pest and disease development. Tissue content of these substances, however, is closely linked to the proteolysis/proteosynthesis balance. When this balance moves towards a decrease of the proteosynthesis, the quantities of soluble substances increases, as well as parasits attacks. The proteosynthesis is affected by different elements, particularly by: 1/ Soil deficiency in trace-elements and nitrogen excess, due to an imbalanced fertilisation. 2/ use of pesticides that can act either directly by a proteosynthesis inhibition on the plant, or indirectly through an alteration of soil balance. Through these studies, we are now able to analyse the multiplication of attacks which so far could not be explained, and strengthen research on preventive action against pests and diseases.

Chauboussou Francis (1980), Les plantes malades des pesticides, Ed. Debard, Paris.

Chauboussou Francis (1985), Sante des cultures, une revolution agronomique, Ed. Flammarion, Paris.